Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Christa Pike Survives Tennessee Execution Attempt; State Orders Review
Tennessee tried to execute Christa Pike with a medicine called pentobarbital, but she survived two doses.
Her lawyers say she is unconscious and needs a machine to help her breathe.
They also say her arms were badly injured while workers tried to put the medicine into a vein.
The state has not publicly established why the attempt failed.
Governor Bill Lee paused executions for the rest of 2026 and ordered an independent review.
State lawmakers said they would investigate too.
Pike’s lawyers want evidence from the attempt saved and are asking for her death sentence to be changed to life in prison.
Pike was convicted of killing Colleen Slemmer in 1995.
What happens to Pike’s sentence next is not yet clear.
Tennessee administered two doses of pentobarbital to death-row prisoner Christa Pike on Wednesday, but she survived and was taken to hospital.
Her attorneys say Pike is unconscious, intubated and on a ventilator, with serious injuries to both arms.
Pike’s lawyers allege that execution staff struggled to place IV lines and that some drug may have entered tissue rather than her bloodstream; the cause has not been publicly established.
Governor Bill Lee halted further executions through the rest of 2026 and ordered an independent review; state lawmakers also said they would investigate.
Pike’s attorneys are seeking preservation of evidence and commutation of her death sentence; she was convicted in the 1995 killing of Colleen Slemmer.
- Who
- Christa Pike, Tennessee officials and Pike’s attorneys; Governor Bill Lee ordered a review.
- What
- Pike survived an attempted lethal injection and is critically ill, according to her lawyers; the governor paused executions and ordered an independent review.
- When
- The execution attempt occurred Wednesday night; Pike’s condition and the lawyers’ court filing were reported on Thursday and Friday.
- Where
- The execution took place at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tennessee; Pike was taken to a Nashville-area hospital.
- Why
- Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. The reason the execution attempt failed has not been publicly established.
Tennessee Officials and Victim’s Family
Pike’s Attorneys
What happened during the attempt
Tennessee Officials and Victim’s Family
The Tennessee Department of Correction said it followed the state’s established execution protocol. Governor Bill Lee said the circumstances require review.
Pike’s Attorneys
Pike’s lawyers allege that staff failed to recognize incorrectly placed IV lines or blown veins, and that pentobarbital may have entered her tissues rather than her bloodstream.
What should happen next
Tennessee Officials and Victim’s Family
Lee ordered an independent review, and lawmakers said they would investigate. Slemmer’s mother said she did not get justice for her daughter.
Pike’s Attorneys
Pike’s attorneys want evidence preserved and are urging that her death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment.
- Prisoner
- Christa Pike, 50, is on Tennessee’s death row.
- Execution attempt
- Two doses of pentobarbital were administered on Wednesday night; Pike survived.
- Reported condition
- Her attorneys say she is unconscious, intubated and receiving breathing assistance from a ventilator.
- Reported injuries
- Her lawyers say both arms were swollen, burned and blistered.
- IV access
- Attorney Randy Spivey said staff worked for about an hour to establish IV access and that he counted at least seven needles in Pike’s left arm.
- State response
- Governor Bill Lee halted further executions through the rest of 2026 and ordered an independent review; lawmakers also said they would investigate.
- Legal requests
- Pike’s attorneys asked for evidence from the attempt to be preserved and are seeking commutation of her death sentence.
- Underlying conviction
- Pike was convicted of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995.
Sources
Christa Pike In Critical Condition After Failed Tennessee Execution
On ventilator and unconscious, what's next for Christa Pike after surviving lethal injection
Christa Pike: What happens to her next after botched execution? Will she be freed or serve life sentence?
Botched execution
Tennessee Inmate In Critical Condition After Botched Execution; Governor Halts Executions
Christa Pike in critical condition after surviving two lethal injections, lawyer says
Convicted Murderer Christa Pike On Ventilator After Failed Execution In US
Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike unconscious on ventilator, lawyers say
Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike on ventilator, attorneys say
Christa Pike remains on ventilator after a botched execution in Tennessee, lawyers say
Tennessee death row: Christa Pike unconscious, on ventilator after failed lethal injection
