Christa Pike Update: Everything Attorneys Have Said Since Botched Execution

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In an update on Thursday, her attorneys called her physical recovery “remarkable,” but said that questions remain about the long-term effects of what she endured as well as her legal standing. The failed execution has brought fresh scrutiny on how states carry out the death penalty, particularly when using lethal injection. Pike’s attorneys said that the state should never attempt to execute her again, as they repeated their calls for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Newsweek reached out to Lee's office and the Tennessee Department of Correction via email for comment. Attorneys Said Pike Is Being Treated in Hospital After the failed execution, Pike’s attorneys said she was alive and loudly snoring. In a statement issued that night, they said she was being treated at a nearby hospital and that they had not been told about her condition. “Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution,” the attorneys said. “We take no pleasure in being right, but the concerns raised by Ms. Pike proved to be true: difficult vein access, blown veins, degraded pentobarbital, no emergency medical care available when things inevitably go wrong, all under a protocol that remains veiled in secrecy.” The Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement the same night that it "followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office. The lethal injection chemical in the protocol has consistently been effective, and the protocol does not allow for additional procedures beyond what was carried out this evening. Christa Pike has been transported to an off-site medical facility." Lee announced an independent review of Pike’s botched execution and paused the remaining scheduled executions of the year. “Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State’s most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective,” he said. Pike’s execution was the second time this year that Tennessee was unable to carry out an execution. Officials called off the execution of Tony Carruthers in May after the execution team tried and failed for over an hour to place an IV to administer pentobarbital. Attorneys Speak at Press Conference At a press conference on October 1, two of Pike’s attorneys provided updates and called for clemency for their client. “Last night was not just inefficient, it was cruel and it was torturous. It was also predictable,” attorney Randy Spivey said during the news conference. He added that she was in “critical condition receiving life-saving care.” Spivey said the execution team worked for an hour to administer the lethal drugs, and he counted at least seven needles in her left arm. Another attorney, Steve Ferrell, said Pike had feared there would be complications because of a lifelong blood disorder that made it tough to get needles into her veins. “Throughout her life, she’s explained to us that she had trouble having blood drawn,” he said. Attorneys File Motion to Preserve Evidence More details about Pike's condition emerged in an October 2 emergency court filing where Pike’s attorneys sought to preserve evidence from Pike’s failed execution. In that filing, the attorneys said the execution team used at least seven needles while attempting to gain IV access. They said Pike even tried to help by offering guidance on where an IV could be inserted. Pike “could be heard crying, whimpering, and breathing loudly throughout the procedure; at one point Ms. Pike stated ‘my arm feels like it’s about to burst open’ and at another asked ‘does this happen like that?'’’ the attorneys wrote. The statement said Pike remained critically ill in hospital. “She is intubated, on a ventilator, and remains unconscious. Upon arrival, both of her arms were swollen, burned, and blistered,” the attorneys wrote. The filing “details the serious complications that occurred during the execution attempt, many of which Christa and her attorneys had warned the State and the courts about months earlier,” Luke Ihnen, one of Pike’s attorneys, said in a statement. “Preserving this evidence is essential to understanding what happened, ensuring accountability and protecting Christa’s legal rights.” Resignation of Prisons Chief On Saturday, Pike's attorneys welcomed the resignation of Frank Strada, the head of Tennessee’s prison system. "The resignation of Commissioner Strada is justified, but it does nothing to help Christa now,” the attorneys said in a statement. “What happened to her Wednesday reflects a systemic failure that goes far beyond any one person. We hope the Governor’s call for a full, independent review will expose the profound problems within Tennessee’s entire death penalty system.” Strada said in a statement provided to Newsweek that he believes the department “carried out its responsibilities in accordance with the established protocol," adding, “Even so, stepping aside is in the best interest of Tennesseans as the independent review moves forward. I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred.” In a statement on Saturday, Lee said Strada would step down later this month. Lee also ordered an independent review of the department’s actions in the execution attempt. The governor’s office said the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office retained former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton to conduct the review. The review “will seek to determine whether the protocol was followed and consider whether additional recommendations are necessary to ensure the State’s protocol continues to be lawful and effective,” the governor’s office said in a statement. Pike Is Awake and Speaking Pike’s attorneys said in a statement on Tuesday that Pike was awake and speaking at a hospital. “Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care,” they wrote. “Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery.” Her attorneys said they are grateful to the first responders and the hospital medical team “who treated Christa like a human and have provided exceptional care to her.” ‘Angry and Confused’ At a press conference on Wednesday, Spivey said Pike was “angry and confused” in the hours after she regained consciousness. He said she woke up as plans were being made to remove her from life support. “To the shock of everyone…Christa woke up and began talking,” Spivey said. “She is angry and confused about everything right now.” “Where am I? And who are you?” Pike said after waking up, according to Spivey. The news conference was held after a court hearing about preserving evidence. A judge later on Wednesday ordered the state to preserve all evidence connected to Pike’s failed execution. Attorneys Say Pike’s Recovery Is ‘Remarkable’ In their most recent statement, Pike’s attorneys said she has begun walking and eating again. Her first steps on Wednesday were “limited,” and on Thursday, she was walking “with some assistance,” they said. Her arms “are healing and regaining movement and strength,” they added. “Her lungs are clear, and she has started to eat a regular diet.” But they said that her doctors have cautioned it may be months before it is known whether she sustained lasting cognitive injuries. “While her physical recovery has been remarkable, significant questions remain about the long-term effects of what she endured,” they said. “Christa is dealing with the profound psychological trauma of having survived a failed execution, including the terror, pain and uncertainty of believing she was about to die.” Her attorneys also repeated their call for Lee to commute her sentence. “Christa has endured more than enough,” they said. “We continue to call on Gov. Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She should never be subjected to another execution attempt.” Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Sam Wilson.10Loading video…By Khaleda RahmanNational Correspondent

0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Christa Pike’s attorneys have issued regular updates in the days since her botched execution in Tennessee.

Pike, 50, was transported to a hospital after surviving two doses of the lethal drug pentobarbital on September 30 as the state sought to execute her for the 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer. In an update on Thursday, her attorneys called her physical recovery “remarkable,” but said that questions remain about the long-term effects of what she endured as well as her legal standing.

The failed execution has brought fresh scrutiny on how states carry out the death penalty, particularly when using lethal injection.

Pike’s attorneys said that the state should never attempt to execute her again, as they repeated their calls for Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Newsweek reached out to Lee’s office and the Tennessee Department of Correction via email for comment.

After the failed execution, Pike’s attorneys said she was alive and loudly snoring. In a statement issued that night, they said she was being treated at a nearby hospital and that they had not been told about her condition.

“Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution,” the attorneys said.

“We take no pleasure in being right, but the concerns raised by Ms. Pike proved to be true: difficult vein access, blown veins, degraded pentobarbital, no emergency medical care available when things inevitably go wrong, all under a protocol that remains veiled in secrecy.”

The Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement the same night that it “followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office. The lethal injection chemical in the protocol has consistently been effective, and the protocol does not allow for additional procedures beyond what was carried out this evening. Christa Pike has been transported to an off-site medical facility.”

Lee announced an independent review of Pike’s botched execution and paused the remaining scheduled executions of the year.

“Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State’s most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective,” he said.

Pike’s execution was the second time this year that Tennessee was unable to carry out an execution. Officials called off the execution of Tony Carruthers in May after the execution team tried and failed for over an hour to place an IV to administer pentobarbital.

At a press conference on October 1, two of Pike’s attorneys provided updates and called for clemency for their client.

“Last night was not just inefficient, it was cruel and it was torturous. It was also predictable,” attorney Randy Spivey said during the news conference. He added that she was in “critical condition receiving life-saving care.”

Spivey said the execution team worked for an hour to administer the lethal drugs, and he counted at least seven needles in her left arm.

Another attorney, Steve Ferrell, said Pike had feared there would be complications because of a lifelong blood disorder that made it tough to get needles into her veins. “Throughout her life, she’s explained to us that she had trouble having blood drawn,” he said.

Related StoryExecuting Christa Pike Again Could Be Double Jeopardy, Expert SaysAttorneys File Motion to Preserve Evidence More details about Pike’s condition emerged in an October 2 emergency court filing where Pike’s attorneys sought to preserve evidence from Pike’s failed execution. In that filing, the attorneys said the execution team used at least seven needles while attempting to gain IV access. They said Pike even tried to help by offering guidance on where an IV could be inserted.

Pike “could be heard crying, whimpering, and breathing loudly throughout the procedure; at one point Ms. Pike stated ‘my arm feels like it’s about to burst open’ and at another asked ‘does this happen like that?’’’ the attorneys wrote.

The statement said Pike remained critically ill in hospital. “She is intubated, on a ventilator, and remains unconscious. Upon arrival, both of her arms were swollen, burned, and blistered,” the attorneys wrote.

The filing “details the serious complications that occurred during the execution attempt, many of which Christa and her attorneys had warned the State and the courts about months earlier,” Luke Ihnen, one of Pike’s attorneys, said in a statement.

“Preserving this evidence is essential to understanding what happened, ensuring accountability and protecting Christa’s legal rights.”

On Saturday, Pike’s attorneys welcomed the resignation of Frank Strada, the head of Tennessee’s prison system.

“The resignation of Commissioner Strada is justified, but it does nothing to help Christa now,” the attorneys said in a statement.

“What happened to her Wednesday reflects a systemic failure that goes far beyond any one person. We hope the Governor’s call for a full, independent review will expose the profound problems within Tennessee’s entire death penalty system.”

Strada said in a statement provided to Newsweek that he believes the department “carried out its responsibilities in accordance with the established protocol,” adding, “Even so, stepping aside is in the best interest of Tennesseans as the independent review moves forward. I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred.”

In a statement on Saturday, Lee said Strada would step down later this month.

Lee also ordered an independent review of the department’s actions in the execution attempt. The governor’s office said the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office retained former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton to conduct the review.

The review “will seek to determine whether the protocol was followed and consider whether additional recommendations are necessary to ensure the State’s protocol continues to be lawful and effective,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

Pike’s attorneys said in a statement on Tuesday that Pike was awake and speaking at a hospital.

“Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care,” they wrote.

“Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery.”

Her attorneys said they are grateful to the first responders and the hospital medical team “who treated Christa like a human and have provided exceptional care to her.”

Related Story5 Hard Truths About Christa Pike’s Botched Execution‘Angry and Confused’At a press conference on Wednesday, Spivey said Pike was “angry and confused” in the hours after she regained consciousness. He said she woke up as plans were being made to remove her from life support.

“To the shock of everyone…Christa woke up and began talking,” Spivey said.

“She is angry and confused about everything right now.”

“Where am I? And who are you?” Pike said after waking up, according to Spivey.

The news conference was held after a court hearing about preserving evidence. A judge later on Wednesday ordered the state to preserve all evidence connected to Pike’s failed execution.

In their most recent statement, Pike’s attorneys said she has begun walking and eating again.

Her first steps on Wednesday were “limited,” and on Thursday, she was walking “with some assistance,” they said.

Her arms “are healing and regaining movement and strength,” they added. “Her lungs are clear, and she has started to eat a regular diet.”

But they said that her doctors have cautioned it may be months before it is known whether she sustained lasting cognitive injuries.

“While her physical recovery has been remarkable, significant questions remain about the long-term effects of what she endured,” they said. “Christa is dealing with the profound psychological trauma of having survived a failed execution, including the terror, pain and uncertainty of believing she was about to die.”

Her attorneys also repeated their call for Lee to commute her sentence.

“Christa has endured more than enough,” they said. “We continue to call on Gov. Lee to commute her death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She should never be subjected to another execution attempt.”

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and Sam Wilson.