Tennessee execution team struggled with IV lines for Christa Pike

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 23:33 · Archive

Tennessee execution staff used about 10 needles to establish IV lines before attempting to execute Christa Pike in September.

Tennessee execution team members failed multiple times to establish working intravenous lines in Christa Pike's arms before her attempted execution on 30 September, according to a court document filed by her attorney Randy Spivey. The IV team used about 10 needles and tried several sites on both arms, and staff warned that some of her veins may have ruptured, or "blown". They struggled to push saline through the final IV site they established.

Pike, 50, survived two doses of pentobarbital during the execution attempt for the 1995 stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. She was 18 when she tortured and killed Slemmer with her boyfriend, becoming one of the youngest women to be sentenced to death. State protocol calls for a second dose of pentobarbital if the first does not result in death, but does not spell out what to do if a person survives the second injection.

After being taken to hospital, Pike was on a ventilator for several days. At one point, her attorneys did not expect her to survive. She ultimately regained consciousness and returned to prison after being discharged. The failed execution has brought renewed scrutiny to how Tennessee carries out death sentences.

How it is being reported

• Execution staff warned IV site might have 'blown' during Christa Pike's execution attemptA court document says Tennessee execution team members failed multiple times to establish working IV lines in Christa Pike’s arms before her attempted execution.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 22:42
• Execution staff warned IV site might have 'blown' during Christa Pike's execution attemptA court document says Tennessee execution team members failed multiple times to establish working IV lines in Christa Pike’s arms before her attempted execution.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 22:42

In this story: Christa Pike · Colleen Slemmer · Randy Spivey · Tennessee

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