Christa Pike Speaks After Failed Execution

Christa Pike, 50, survived Tennessee’s Sept. 30 lethal-injection attempt after receiving two full doses of pentobarbital; she later woke after doctors reportedly believed she was brain dead. Her lawyers say she is speaking but remains confused and has serious medical problems, including swollen arms and difficulty swallowing, following repeated attempts to establish IV access. A Nashville judge ordered the state to preserve physical and digital evidence, try to recover potentially deleted material, and allow Pike’s attorneys access to her with two hours’ notice. Her lawyers say the evidence may support claims that the state violated her constitutional rights, and they have asked Gov. Bill Lee to commute her sentence to life imprisonment; Lee has said he intends to uphold jury sentences. Tennessee has suspended its other executions scheduled for this year, and state officials have not said whether Pike could face another execution. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 torture and murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer and is believed to be the first person in the United States known to survive a complete execution attempt.