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Tennessee must preserve evidence related to Christa Pike’s failed execution, judge rules
The judge also ordered prison officials to give Pike’s lawyers faster access as they seek records on the failed lethal injection.
- On Wednesday, Chancellor Ashea Myles ordered Tennessee to preserve all evidence from Christa Pike's failed Sept. 30 execution and directed prison wardens to respond within two hours to access requests from Pike's legal team.
- Tennessee attempted to execute Pike on Sept. 30 for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, but the procedure failed after she survived two doses of pentobarbital. Pike faced the first female execution in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
- Pike's attorneys reported she suffered "severe damage" to her arms and remains "speaking limitedly" while receiving critical medical care. Chancellor Myles ordered preservation of medical equipment, communications, photographs, and execution records.
- Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee paused all state executions for the remainder of 2026 and announced Correction Commissioner Frank Strada will step down this month. Lee also ordered an independent investigation into the failed procedure.
- Pike's future remains uncertain as no execution order currently exists, though the state has not ruled out seeking another date. Attorneys argue a second execution attempt would likely violate constitutional protections against cruel punishment.
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Christa Pike has pneumonia and no function in her arms after failed execution, lawyer says
Christa Pike has a “long road to recovery” after Tennessee’s failed execution attempt that left her unconscious and on life support for six days, her lawyer, Randy Spivey said at a news conference Wednesday.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center11Last UpdatedBias Distribution61% Center
Bias Distribution
- 61% of the sources are Center
61% Center
L 22%
C 61%
R 17%
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