Jessie Hoffman, who is scheduled to be executed by nitrogen gas on March 18, has filed a new federal lawsuit challenging Louisiana's execution protocol, claiming it may violate the Eighth Amendment.

Nitrogen gas is banned in Louisiana to euthanize dogs. The state plans to use it to kill a death row inmate next month - ‘This is a state that hasn't executed anybody in 15 years, and suddenly there’s this rush to kill,

Christopher Sepulvado, 81, died Saturday at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana, "from natural causes as a result of complications arising from his pre-existing medical conditions," according to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Christopher Sepulvado, 81, died from "natural causes," the state corrections department said. He was convicted of murder in the 1992 killing of his 6-year-old stepson.

Louisiana death row inmate Christopher Sepulvado died Saturday his lawyers announced. He had been given an execution date in March.

A federal judge in the Middle District Court of Louisiana granted a motion to expedite consideration and reopening of the case.

Police added there were “no obvious signs of gas leak,” discrediting a theory that has spread online. According to Tatum O’Neal, her actor father thought the role of a child prostitute was "a little too naked" for the Oscar-winning child star.

Jessie Hoffman, a death row inmate, is scheduled to be Louisiana's first execution since 2010 and will be put to death by nitrogen gas, despite a lawsuit filed to stay his execution.