When searching for the Red Lantern Corps entity, the Butcher, Atrocitus saw where the Entity was headed: to an execution of a psychopath. The murderer, named Hayes, killed his victim, Elizabeth Kim, with horrible brutality, and was sentenced to death via electric chair. James Kim, the father of his murdered daughter, presided over the execution and was taunted by Hayes on the manner of his daughter's death that infuriated him in attracting the attentions of the Butcher. The entity broke into the execution and talked to James that he had great rage in his heart. Before he could get controlled by the entity, however the Spectre prevented it claiming that the Butcher was too chaotic and too dangerous to be left alone on Earth.