Chaos in Tennessee as Christa Pike survives two doses of lethal injection

1 Oct 2026 • 1:21 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Chaos in Tennessee as Christa Pike survives two doses of lethal injection

  • Christa Pike, 50, survived an attempted execution by lethal injection in Tennessee after being administered two doses of pentobarbital.
  • Pike, convicted of the 1995 murder of fellow student Colleen Slemmer, was set to become the first woman executed in the state in 200 years.
  • The execution went ahead late on Wednesday after the US Supreme Court lifted a temporary legal stay in a 6-3 decision.
  • Witnesses reported the execution chamber curtain was drawn twice before Pike was taken to hospital, where her lawyers confirmed she was receiving life-saving care.
  • Her defence team condemned the state's procedure, citing issues including compromised vein access, degraded lethal drugs, and a lack of emergency medical planning.

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