Tennessee Governor Suspends All Executions After Christa Pike’s Lethal Injections Fail
Independent inquiry ordered after halted execution of Pike, who was convicted of murder
TL;DR
- Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has suspended all executions until the end of the year.
- An independent inquiry has been ordered into a botched lethal injection attempt of Christa Pike.
- Witnesses reported Pike was still awake and snoring approximately 40 minutes after the administration of lethal drugs.
- Pike was transported to an off-site medical facility; her condition is unknown.
- This incident occurred after the US Supreme Court lifted a federal court stay on Pike's execution.
- Pike's lawyers cited issues with vein access, degraded drugs, and lack of medical care.
- Tennessee Department of Correction stated its protocol was followed.
- This suspension affects another scheduled execution for Gary Wayne Sutton.
- Christa Pike was convicted of the 1994 murder of a teenage classmate.