Christa Pike out of hospital and back in prison after surviving US execution attempt

Christa Pike, who defied Tennessee's lethal injection execution attempt on September 30, 2022, has been discharged from the hospital and returned to the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Centre, her lawyers announced on Saturday. The 50-year-old inmate, convicted for the 1995 murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer, spent 30 years in prison before her release from the hospital.

Pike, who was initially on a ventilator after receiving two doses of pentobarbital, showed signs of recovery by waking up and communicating with assistance, according to her legal team. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the execution, Pike's lawyers argue that a possible error in the placement of the IV lines may have prevented the lethal drugs from entering her bloodstream effectively.

Following the failed execution, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee postponed the remaining execution scheduled for the year and ordered a thorough review of the incident. The state's prison chief also resigned due to the botched procedure. Upon waking up, Pike expressed gratitude towards the medical team and first responders, stating that she felt at peace.

A short while later, she mentioned that her arm was hurting. Eventually, she fell unconscious but continued to breathe heavily until she was transferred to a hospital by ambulance shortly after the execution.