TENNESSEE, United States — Tennessee has suspended its remaining execution scheduled for this year after a failed attempt to execute death row inmate Christa Pike raised questions about the state’s lethal injection procedures.
Pike, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19 year old Colleen Slemmer, was strapped to a gurney Wednesday night and received two doses of pentobarbital. However, witnesses reported that she remained alive and was loudly snoring after the injections.
The incident occurred after several last minute legal challenges seeking to stop the execution had failed.
Pike’s lawyers said Thursday that she was in critical condition and receiving life saving medical treatment. Her attorney, Randy Spivey, called on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to commute her death sentence, arguing that Pike had endured extraordinary suffering during the failed execution.
The governor subsequently ordered a halt to Tennessee’s remaining execution this year while an independent review examines what happened.
“The Governor has appropriately called for an investigation,” the office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said, adding that authorities needed to establish what went wrong.
The failed execution is the second time Lee has ordered a review of Tennessee’s execution procedures. In 2022, he temporarily paused executions after discovering that the state had not properly followed procedures for testing lethal injection drugs.
The latest incident has renewed debate over the reliability of lethal injection in the United States. Tennessee has experienced other difficulties with executions, including another execution attempt that was halted earlier this year.
Pike’s legal team has pointed to several possible problems, including difficulty accessing veins, blown veins and concerns about the condition of the pentobarbital used. The lawyers also questioned the availability of emergency medical care during the procedure.
Experts say problems with lethal injection have contributed to several states exploring alternative execution methods, including nitrogen gas and firing squads.
The case is now expected to undergo detailed review as authorities investigate the drugs, equipment, medical procedures and execution protocol used during Pike’s attempted execution.
Pike remains in critical condition as questions continue over whether Tennessee can safely and lawfully carry out executions under its current procedures.
