Texas executes 46-year-old, first US execution since Christa Pike survived lethal injection

Christa Pike, convicted murderer, described as “angry and confused” after surviving botched execution

A lawyer for Christa Pike, who was sentenced to death for murdering Colleen Slemmer in 1995, recounted her state of mind following a failed execution attempt last week in Tennessee. Pike woke up in a hospital, disoriented and seeking answers to her whereabouts and the identities of her caretakers. Her first words to her lawyer, Randy Spivey, were "Where am I?" and "Who are you?"

Pike's unexpected recovery after two lethal injections on September 30 has left experts and her legal team baffled, as no other U.S. inmate has survived a lethal injection. A court order on Wednesday mandated the preservation of all evidence related to the failed execution, and Pike, 50, is currently receiving critical medical care at her hospital bed, restrained by her hands and feet. Her lawyers revealed that they initially believed she was brain dead and expected her to be taken off life support soon.

Pike's limited recollections of the execution attempt included assisting the execution team in finding a vein and remaining polite during the injection. Despite her recovery, Pike's body is now swollen, and she is suffering from pneumonia and a blood clot in one arm. Her lawyers expressed concern for her mental health, noting her anger and confusion over the ordeal. They also requested access to a phone for continuous communication with her legal team.