Tennessee's prison chief resigns after botched execution of murderer Christa Pike

The head of Tennessee's prison system, Frank Strada, has resigned following a botched execution of murderer Christa Pike, according to Governor Bill Lee. Witnesses reported that Pike was still breathing and moaning after two doses of pentobarbital, an anesthetic used in lethal injections, failed to kill her during the procedure on Wednesday.

The execution was halted and Pike was transferred to a hospital in critical condition. This was the second time in the year that an execution had to be halted in the southern state. The governor praised Strada for prioritizing the interests of Tennesseans during this challenging period. Strada acknowledged that stepping aside is in the best interest of Tennesseans as the independent review moves forward.

The state has suspended further executions until the review is completed. Strada joined the position in January 2023 and introduced the use of pentobarbital for lethal injections. Pike's legal team believes that issues with the IV lines caused the pentobarbital to enter her body instead of her bloodstream. Pike, sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer, is now unconscious and on a ventilator in the hospital.

Her legal team hopes the governor's call for a full, independent review will expose systemic problems within Tennessee's death penalty system.