Woman survives two lethal injections

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike remains in critical condition after surviving two lethal injections during a failed execution attempt, her lawyer said.

Pike, 50, was administered two doses of pentobarbital on Wednesday (September 30) but remained alive and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Her lawyer Randy Spivey said she was receiving life-saving treatment, but doctors had not provided a prognosis.

Spivey said the execution team spent about an hour trying to establish an IV line, with at least seven needles used in Pike’s left arm during the attempts.

Pike’s lawyers are seeking to have her death sentence commuted and are considering further legal options. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered an independent review of the failed execution and halted all executions in the state for the rest of 2026.