Tennessee governor halts executions after Christa Gail Pike survives lethal injection

Christa Pike, a 50-year-old woman on death row in Tennessee, survived a failed execution after being administered two doses of a lethal drug. Pike was set to be executed by lethal injection in connection with the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Following the second dose of pentobarbital, Pike was reportedly still awake and snoring for over 40 minutes, according to media witnesses.

The Tennessee Department of Correction has not yet provided an explanation for the failed execution, while Pike's lawyers filed an emergency motion to halt the process. The execution was temporarily halted by the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which sought more time to consider Pike's arguments about the lack of consideration for her history of childhood sexual abuse and neglect during her sentencing.

The US Supreme Court later overturned the stay, allowing Tennessee to proceed with the execution. Pike's lawyers argue that her age, history of abuse, and mental health should have been taken into account during her sentencing. If Pike's execution had been successful, she would have been the first woman put to death by Tennessee in over 200 years.