Tennessee Governor Expects Pike's Death Sentence To Stand After Failed Attempt
Governor Bill Lee has paused all state executions through the end of the year to review what went wrong during Christa Pike's case.
By Amir Mwangi ·
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said he expects Christa Pike to remain on death row after an execution attempt in September failed to kill her. Pike, sentenced for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, survived two doses of the lethal injection drug before the process was halted. Lee told reporters on Wednesday that Pike remains incarcerated under state law. "I suspect her sentence will be the same as before unless determined otherwise by the courts," Lee said. He did not commit to either a second execution attempt or a commutation to life in prison.
Pike spent several days in a hospital after the September attempt and has since returned to prison. State officials said she can now speak in full sentences and walk without assistance. The incident marked Tennessee's second execution attempt this year.
The failed procedure prompted Lee to suspend all executions through the end of 2026 while the state reviews what occurred. Frank Strada resigned as commissioner of the Department of Correction following the attempt. Lee said Strada will leave his post by the end of October.
Lee said he expects to announce Strada's replacement within days. Pike remains in custody pending any court decisions on her sentence.
Source: KCTV5
