Something very strange happened in Tennessee on Wednesday night. A woman on death row survived two doses of lethal injection, according to the Daily Caller. Christa Gail Pike is still alive after state officials tried to execute her. She was even heard snoring before officials stopped the process. The state then sent her to a hospital for medical care. This is the second time this year Tennessee has failed to carry out an execution. Now, the governor has paused all future executions for the rest of the year.
Pike was 50 years old and set to die for the murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. The crime was brutal and happened decades ago. Pike and two others lured Slemmer into the woods. They beat her, kicked her, and carved a pentagram into her body. Pike later took a piece of Slemmer’s skull to her school. She showed it to her classmates. She was the first woman scheduled for execution in Tennessee in over 200 years.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee halted the remaining executions through the end of 2026. He made this decision after the failed attempt on Wednesday. Lee told reporters he wants to know exactly what went wrong. He said he ordered a “comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred.” This year, the scheduled execution that remains will not proceed, he further declared.
Lee believes the state must follow the law correctly. According to him, executing a sentence imposed by law ranks among the state’s gravest duties, and Tennesseans anticipate it being handled legally, constitutionally, and effectively. The state cannot afford to make mistakes on such a serious matter. The process must work as intended.
The execution was supposed to happen at 10 a.m. but got delayed by a court order. Briefly halting the action, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit cast its vote. They wanted to consider claims about Pike’s childhood abuse. The Supreme Court later allowed the execution to proceed that evening. Pike gave her final words, saying she would “leave this world” in love.
Officials administered the first dose of pentobarbital. Witnesses reported she remained responsive and even raised her head. She asked if her arm was supposed to feel that way. A second dose was given at about 8:26 p.m. Media witnesses said she appeared to still be breathing.
Her attorney Kelly Gleason told the Nashville Tennessean, “She’s alive and snoring.” The Tennessee Department of Correction confirmed she is receiving care. Lauren Conlin reported that the petitioner is currently en route to a hospital and undergoing medical treatment as an additional response.
Dr. Mark Fowler oversaw this execution. He was also involved in a failed execution of Tony Carruthers in May. That attempt failed because officials could not find a vein. Pike received two syringes of the drug but remained alive. The state now faces a review of its methods. The date for the next execution is unknown. The number of drugs used is clear, but the result was not. Every person in that room went home with a question. How do you ensure a lethal dose is actually lethal? The answer is due after the review is complete.
