Death row inmate Christa Pike was set to be executed on Wednesday, September 30. But despite receiving two lethal injections, she survived and was rushed to a hospital. Her case has raised questions about how a lethal injection can fail, and an anesthesiology expert has explained why injections using pentobarbital can sometimes fail to work as intended.
Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for the brutal murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. After 30 years on death row, she was set to die on September 30.
The process was delayed for hours after a federal appeals court temporarily halted the execution. The U.S. Supreme Court later lifted the stay, allowing Tennessee officials to proceed.
But despite officials going through with the planned protocol, Pike survived two lethal injections and was later taken to a hospital by ambulance. One of her attorneys told BBC News that she was being given ”life-saving measures.”
Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, told the BBC that Pike could potentially have suffered a brain injury because of the delay before efforts were made to resuscitate her.
“It’s very possible that as a consequence of the delay of the beginning of resuscitation she will have a brain injury,” he explained.
At 9:28 p.m., she left the prison in an ambulance, according to the Nashville Banner.
“Very obviously, we have a lot of questions about what we saw and what we did not see, because there were moments when the blinds were down for us, and there were moments when the blinds were up for us,” said John North, investigative producer for WBIR TV in Knoxville, who witnessed the attempted execution. “It appeared that this did not go like they thought it was supposed to go, but we don’t know that.”
Christa Pike survived two lethal injections
After 11 p.m., TDOC emailed the following statement: “The Tennessee Department of Correction followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office. The lethal injection chemical in the protocol has consistently been effective, and the protocol does not allow for additional procedures beyond what was carried out this evening. Christa Pike has been transported to an off-site medical facility.”
Pike’s legal team disputed that account.
“Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution,” her attorneys said.
Anesthesiology expert Dr. Daniel Medel has preciously explained why the pentobarbital used in the lethal injection may fail to work.
“Several botched executions highlighted how fragile these protocols can really be,” the doctor behind the YouTube channel Danesthesia said.
Death row inmates executed by lethal injection
In the video he spoke about what happened to death row inmate Clayton Lockett in April 2014.
“During the execution, the IV line failed, causing the drugs to be improperly administered. Lockett writhed in pain and finally died 43 minutes after the first drug was given,” he said.
“Investigations later revealed critical failures in IV placement, poor staff training, and breakdowns and protocol, turning the execution into a torture session.”
He also mentioned other executions. Death row inmate Dennis Maguire was executed using a combination of midazolam and hydromorphone. He reportedly gasped and snorted for between 10 and 15 minutes before he was declared dead. His execution sparked intense debate over whether the drugs could consistently produce a painless death.
“The outcome isn’t quiet or quick”
Dr. Daniel Medel also spoke about Joseph Wood, who was executed in July 2014 using the same two drugs. His execution lasted nearly two hours and required a total of 15 doses of midazolam and hydromorphone.
In Pike’s case, the drugs used failed to kill her as expected.
“Each of these cases revealed the same problem. When IV access, training, or drug preparation fail, the outcome isn’t quiet or quick,” he said.
“It’s unpredictable and often visibly painful.”
Pike remains hospitalized as questions continue over what happened during the failed execution and whether the prolonged attempt could have caused lasting health consequences.
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