Tennessee seeks to hide lethal drug supplier after Pike execution

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 16:02 · Archive

Tennessee officials want to keep their lethal injection drug supplier secret, warning that exposing them could halt all future executions.

Christa Pike, 50, survived a lethal injection execution on 30 September after being administered two doses of pentobarbital through at least ten needles in a Nashville prison. She was convicted of murdering 19-year-old classmate Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville and had been set to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than two centuries.

Following the botched execution, Tennessee prison officials filed a motion in Davidson County Chancery Court asking a judge to keep their pentobarbital supplier's identity secret. An unidentified Tennessee Department of Corrections employee, whose role involves procuring the drug, wrote that suppliers have expressed concern about threats, harassment and boycotts following the failed execution.

The motion responds to an October order from Chancellor I'Ashea Myles requiring the state to preserve all physical evidence related to Pike's execution, including drug vials, needles and residual pentobarbital. Officials warned that even a label on one of these items could expose the supplier. The state claims the vendor has stated it will cease working with Tennessee if identified, which could prevent future executions from proceeding.

How it is being reported

• Tennessee warns executions could grind to a halt if Christa Pike's lawyers see a single drug label: court docsTennessee officials warn that exposing their pentobarbital supplier could halt all future executions after Christa Pike survived two lethal doses.Fox News · 10 Nov, 15:40
• Tennessee’s lethal drug supplier fears retaliation after Christa Pike’s botched execution: court docsTennessee prison officials are begging a judge to keep their lethal drug suppliers’ identities under wraps after Christa Pike’s botched execution, newly filed court documents reveal.New York Post · 10 Nov, 02:22

In this story: Christa Pike · Colleen Slemmer · Tennessee · Tennessee Department of Corrections · Davidson County Chancery Court · I'Ashea Myles

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