Tennessee execution descends into chaos as death-row inmate survives two lethal injection doses

Christa Pike was rushed for medical treatment after a lethal injection that appeared to go catastrophically wrong

ALIVE AFTER TWO DOSES

Tennessee's attempt to execute death-row inmate Christa Pike descended into extraordinary chaos on Wednesday night after she was given two doses of lethal-injection drugs but remained alive and reportedly continued snoring inside the execution chamber.

Pike, 50, was due to be executed at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. She was eventually administered pentobarbital shortly before 7.30pm — but by 9pm she was still breathing.

Her attorneys said she was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. A federal judge later confirmed that medical personnel had begun providing care.

SOMETHING HAD GONE VERY WRONG

Witnesses described a bizarre sequence inside the death chamber.

Pike sang with her spiritual adviser and made her final statement before the procedure began. Moments later, she was heard saying that her arm felt as though it was about to burst open, while repeatedly kicking her feet.

The curtain to the chamber was closed at 7.46pm and reopened three minutes later.

Witnesses then reported hearing Pike snoring loudly.

The curtain was closed again at 8.06pm, with the snoring reportedly continuing until the microphone was switched off shortly before 9pm.

One reporter later said: “We have a lot of questions.”

LAWYERS HAD WARNED ABOUT THE VEINS

Pike's lawyers had spent weeks arguing that difficult-to-access veins and a blood disorder could make lethal injection dangerous and potentially prolong the procedure.

The state disputed those claims. A medical expert testified that Pike's veins had been successfully accessed during recent blood tests, and a judge ruled that the evidence did not establish a substantial risk of severe pain.

Her lawyers now argue that the events of Wednesday night demonstrated precisely the dangers they had warned about.

Those claims remain contested, but the extraordinary sequence of events is now the subject of emergency legal action.

ANOTHER TENNESSEE EXECUTION FAILURE

The episode also comes just four months after Tennessee halted the planned execution of Tony Carruthers after officials were unable to establish a backup IV line.

Pike's case had already generated multiple legal challenges, including an unsuccessful effort to have her executed by an all-female firing squad because her lawyers argued that being restrained and handled by men could aggravate trauma from her past.

The US Supreme Court had only cleared the way for Wednesday night's execution shortly before it eventually began.

THE CRIME BEHIND THE EXECUTION

Pike was convicted of murdering Slemmer in Knoxville in 1996, when she was 18.

Prosecutors said Pike, her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp and accomplice Shadolla Peterson lured Slemmer into a wooded area, where the teenager was tortured and beaten before being killed.

Pike was sentenced to death. Shipp received life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, while Peterson cooperated with authorities.

Pike has never denied killing Slemmer. Her lawyers have instead argued that her age, untreated mental illness and history of severe childhood abuse should have prevented the death sentence.

Governor Bill Lee declined to grant clemency.

But after Wednesday night's extraordinary events, the question has changed from when Tennessee would carry out Pike's execution to exactly what happened inside that execution chamber — and why she was still alive after two lethal-injection doses.

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Being she didn't actually die, lawyers won't be able to petition for release, stating she 'served her sentence'.

Won't be surprised if and appeal is made on those grounds. She is eligible for electricution 👍

9 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Being she didn't actually die, lawyers won't be able to petition for release, stating she 'served her sentence'.

Won't be surprised if and appeal is made on those grounds. She is eligible for electricution 👍

Definitely a case under the 8th Amendment.

They're trying to revive her so they can execute her again.