Updated 1w+ ago · Crime

Christa Pike Discharged After Botched Execution, Attorneys Say

Christa Pike was discharged from the hospital and returned to prison, her attorneys said Saturday. She survived Tennessee's Sept. 30 attempt to execute her by lethal injection.

2 doses of pentobarbital failed to kill her on Sept. 30.
30 years: her time at the Deborah K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center.
She was sentenced to death for killing classmate Colleen Slemmer in 1995.
Her attorneys said she thanked first responders and her medical team.

Why it matters: The Death Penalty Information Center says Pike is the first person to survive lethal injection drugs during an execution. No official explanation for her survival has been given.

Gov. Bill Lee paused Tennessee executions for the rest of the year.
Tennessee's top prison official has announced his resignation.

The story so far

2 steps · since Oct 8

Oct 8Christa Pike Recovering After Botched Execution, Lawyers Say22 sources
Oct 10Christa Pike Discharged After Botched Execution, Attorneys SayYou are hereLatest

How 54 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 54 sources

54 sources · 62 articles · 44% Center coverage

Where they split: Witnesses said the procedure was abnormal, while state officials say they followed every step of the approved protocol.

Center coverage, 24 sources: The center focuses on Pike's survival and return to prison, noting questions about Tennessee's lethal injection procedures.

Left coverage, 14 sources: The left frames the case as a state failure, citing Pike's pain, her lawyers' earlier warnings about her veins and mounting criticism of the death penalty.

The Guardian1w+Christa Pike out of hospital and back in prison after botched execution attempt The Independent1w+Christa Pike: Death row inmate discharged from hospital after botched execution CNN1w+Whether Tennessee tries to execute Christa Pike again is an open question. Here’s why The Boston Globe1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital after botched execution, attorneys say ABC News1w+Christa Pike released from hospital following botched execution Al Jazeera1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital and returned to Tennessee prison CBS News1w+Christa Pike released from hospital, back in prison following botched execution in Tennessee, lawyers say Cleveland.com1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital, attorney says HuffPost1w+Christa Pike Discharged From Hospital After Surviving Botched Execution, Attorney Says Los Angeles Times1w+Christa Pike, who survived botched execution attempt, discharged from hospital Mediaite1w+Just In: Christa Pike Released From Hospital Following Botched Execution Attempt Political Wire1w+Christa Pike Out of Hospital and Back in Prison The New York Times1w+Christa Pike Discharged From Hospital After Surviving Execution Attempt The Washington Post1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital, 10 days after failed execution attempt

Right coverage, 16 sources: The right treats it as a brief update on a convicted murderer's discharge after officials mishandled her execution.

Daily Mail1w+Christa Pike is discharged from hospital after surviving botched execution attempt Just the News1w+Christa Pike moves back to prison: report Breitbart News1w+Lawyers: Murderer Christa Pike Released from Hospital After Failed Execution Christian Post1w+Christa Pike survived her execution. The double standard no one is talking about Fox News1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital, returned to prison after botched execution, attorneys say Independent Journal Review1w+Christa Pike returns to prison after failed lethal injection attempt National Post1w+U.S. lethal injection survivor returns to prison New York Post1w+Christa Pike discharged from hospital after botched execution: lawyers Newsmax1w+Christa Pike Discharged From Hospital After Botched Execution NTD1w+Tennessee Execution Survivor Christa Pike Released From Hospital, Returned to Prison The Center Square1w+Christa Pike out of the hospital, her attorneys say The Daily Wire1w+Christa Pike Discharged From Hospital After Failed Execution The Gateway Pundit1w+JUST IN: Christa Pike Discharged from Hospital and Moved Back to Prison After Botched Execution * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila The Sun1w+Death row killer Christa Pike discharged from hospital and taken back to prison 10 days after botched execution The Washington Times1w+Christa Pike is discharged from a hospital after surviving execution attempt, her attorneys say Washington Examiner1w+Pike discarged from hospital after botched Tennessee execution

What’s next: Pike remains under medical care at the prison, and her attorneys say they will track her recovery.

A judge ordered the Department of Correction to preserve all execution evidence.
Why did two doses of pentobarbital fail to kill Pike?
Will Tennessee attempt to execute Pike again?
Will the state change its lethal injection protocol before executions resume?