Death row inmate Christa Pike critically ill after botched execution

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 3 Oct, 04:37 · Archive

Christa Pike remains unconscious on a ventilator with severe burns after Tennessee's attempted execution of her on Wednesday.

Christa Pike remains critically ill and unconscious in hospital following an execution attempt by lethal injection in Tennessee on Wednesday. Her legal team reports she is intubated on a ventilator with severe burns covering both arms. Her lawyers filed an emergency motion on Friday demanding that the Tennessee Department of Correction preserve all evidence from the procedure.

Pike's attorneys said her arms were left swollen, burned and blistered when she was rushed to hospital. They compared the effects of the drug pentobarbital to those of bleach. The botched execution was Tennessee's second this year, leading the governor to halt any further executions for the remainder of 2026.

How it is being reported

• Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike unconscious on ventilator, lawyers sayThe Japan Times · 3 Oct, 02:12
• 'Satanic' killer Christa Pike left unconscious on ventilator with burned arms after botch-job execution attemptGB News · 3 Oct, 00:51

In this story: Christa Pike · Tennessee · Tennessee Department of Correction

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