Christa Pike Regains Consciousness After 2 Lethal Doses as Judge Orders Evidence Preserved
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 7
Christa Pike Regains Consciousness After 2 Lethal Doses as Judge Orders Evidence Preserved
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 7
Summary
Nearly a week after Tennessee’s failed execution, Christa Pike regained consciousness and can speak, but her lawyers said she is angry, confused, unable to move either arm and unable to swallow.
Judge I’Ashea Myles ordered the state to preserve syringes, drugs, IV lines, logs, footage and witness accounts from the Sept. 30 execution, while also stressing Pike should have normal attorney access in the hospital.
Lawyers said Pike remains shackled to her bed despite medical requests to free one hand, and the state acknowledged some evidence may not be in corrections custody because items such as IV lines went with her to the hospital.
Assistant Attorney General John Ayers said he could not say whether Tennessee will try to execute Pike again, raising the stakes of the evidence fight as her lawyers press Gov. Bill Lee to commute her sentence to life in prison.
Pike, sentenced to death for the 1995 torture-killing of Colleen Slemmer, is believed to be the first person known to survive doses of a lethal injection drug; Tennessee has already paused executions for an independent review.