Christa Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital during a September 30 execution attempt in Nashville, Tennessee, after state technicians struggled to establish working IV lines in her arms. According to court documents filed by her attorney, Randy Spivey, the execution team used approximately 10 needles and warned that some of Pike’s veins may have ruptured or “blown” before the lethal drug was administered. Pike, 50, was hospitalized after the attempt, and emergency vehicles were seen arriving at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution on the day of the event.
IV team warned of blown veins before injection
The execution process began at 6:34 p.m. on September 30. While the team established a line in Pike’s right arm within six minutes, the left arm took nearly an hour. Spivey wrote that Pike was “wincing and grimacing” as needles were moved inside her arm. At 6:57 p.m., one team member stated a vein “might be blowing,” while another later remarked, “I think it’s blown,” at 7:07 p.m. During the process, Pike assisted the team by suggesting they check her upper arm for a viable vein. At one point, a needle appeared severely bent when it was removed.
A person on the IV team named by Spivey as “member two” first expressed fear of a blown vein at 6:53 p.m. The team discarded a 20-gauge needle, claiming it was not long enough. Despite these doubts, the team declared the left IV successful at 7:13 p.m. The team also struggled to push saline through the final IV site they established.
Did you know? The Death Penalty Information Center identifies Christa Pike as the only person to have survived a successfully completed lethal injection.
Pike reported burning pain during drug administration
At 7:34 p.m., Pike told her attorney, “I feel like my arm is about to bust. It burns.” Spivey noted that for the next 30 minutes, Pike strained, flinched, and appeared to struggle for breath. By 8:50 p.m., Spivey was informed an ambulance was on the way, and medical staff began providing life-saving measures at 9:10 p.m. Pike was subsequently hospitalized and placed on a ventilator for several days.
A theory has emerged that if a vein burst, the pentobarbital would have diverted into arm tissue rather than the bloodstream. This would cause severe injury but fail to kill the prisoner. Pike’s family was told she was brain dead and that the plug would be pulled on October 6; however, she regained consciousness that morning and was discharged four days later. While she can now walk and talk, her long-term prognosis remains unknown.
Governor Lee halts executions for protocol review
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has put all executions on hold while the state reviews its protocols. This follows a legal challenge by death row inmates regarding lethal injection procedures. Kit Thomas, an attorney for death row inmates, stated that predictions about botched executions “have come true — and will continue to come true — without substantial change.”
Public opinion on second execution attempts
| Respondent Group | Support Life Sentence | Support Second Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| All Respondents | 39% | 33% |
| Democrats | 51% | 24% |
| Republicans | 31% | 52% |
Pike killed classmate Colleen Slemmer in 1995
Pike is currently incarcerated at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center. She was 18 years old in 1995 when she killed classmate Colleen Slemmer. The Tennessean reports that Pike beat Slemmer to death with a chunk of asphalt, citing a belief that Slemmer was romantically interested in Pike’s boyfriend. Pike spent nearly three decades in solitary confinement following the murder.
Common Questions About the Pike Case
What happens to Pike now that she has survived?
She has returned to prison and continues to receive medical care. Governor Bill Lee has suspended all state executions pending a review of the protocol.
Why did the lethal injection fail?
Her attorneys argue the failure was due to “incompetent” staff and “blown” veins that diverted the drug into her arm tissue rather than her bloodstream.
Is there a legal limit on execution attempts?
State protocol requires a second dose of pentobarbital if the first fails, but there is no specific guidance for prisoners who survive a second dose.
Pike’s legal team has petitioned Governor Lee to commute her sentence to life in prison, citing the risk of further “torturous” attempts. Her team previously suggested hanging or a central line injection into the jugular vein as alternatives.