Dennis McGuire, a prisoner in Ohio sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Joy Stewart in 1989, took more than 20 minutes to die on Thursday after being given a lethal injection. According to the Associated Press, the combination of drugs used to kill McGuire had never before been used in the United States for execution purposes. McGuire reportedly made loud snorting noises, before 10 minutes of irregular breathing and gasping. Lethal injections in the United States are usually carried out using pentobarbital, a method that leads to much shorter executions, but Ohios supplies of the drug have run out after its Danish manufacturers blocked its export for use in executions in 2011. McGuire was accused of raping and murdering the pregnant Joy Stewart after being jailed for an unrelated assault, having initially told police his brother-in-law committed the murder in an effort to reduce his punishment.