The Idaho Department of Correction Director suspends preparations for the execution of Gerald Pizzuto on December 15th.

Idaho Department of Corrections Director Josh Tewalt has notified the Idaho Board of Correction he believes it is unlikely the Department will be able to secure the chemicals necessary to carry out the scheduled execution of Gerald Pizzuto.

CBS2 reports that in a memo to the Board, Director Tewalt says he believes the death warrant for Mr. Pizzuto should be allowed to expire and efforts to prepare for the execution should be suspended.

In response to the news, the Supervising Attorney for the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defender Services of Idaho said the State’s decision to get a death warrant while being unprepared for an execution led to a tremendous amount of unnecessary and costly litigation, all at taxpayer expense.