Tennessee’s prisons chief is resigning after failed execution of Christa Pike

Tennessee's prison chief, Frank Strada, is resigning following the botched execution of Christa Pike on Wednesday, according to Governor Bill Lee's announcement on Saturday. Commissioner Strada cited the need for an independent review to determine the reasons behind the failed execution as the reason for his decision. Pike, who was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer, was placed on a ventilator and remained unconscious in a hospital as her attorneys fought to have her sentence commuted.

Hospital staff were working to clear pentobarbital, the drug used in the execution attempt, from Pike's system. During the procedure, prison officials used at least seven needles to attempt to start IV lines, with one needle described as being bent at a 90-degree angle upon removal. Pike was heard crying, whimpering, and breathing heavily throughout the execution attempt.

While the state's Department of Correction has defended its execution protocol, Pike's legal team alleges that the IV lines were not correctly placed and that the pentobarbital entered her body. They are requesting that all relevant evidence be preserved. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered an independent review into the botched execution and halted all executions in the state for the year.