A lawyer revealed that Krista Pike is in critical condition after surviving two lethal injection attempts, while Tennessee's governor has ordered a halt to all executions this year to investigate the facts.
Foreign news agencies report that Krista Pike, a 50-year-old female death row inmate in Tennessee, is in "critical condition" and receiving emergency life-saving treatment at a hospital after surviving two lethal injection attempts.
"We do not yet have a full assessment or health update, but we know she is still alive," said Randy Spivey, Pike's lawyer, emphasizing that she requires "life-saving medical care" following the botched execution.
This failed lethal injection event prompted Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to suspend all executions in the state throughout 2026 to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause.
"Many questions have arisen, and the people of our state deserve answers to those questions. That is the purpose of this investigation," Governor Lee said.
Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 at just 18 years old for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Pike and her boyfriend brutally tortured and assaulted the victim, including carving a pentagram on her chest.
Pike's legal team has opposed Tennessee's lethal injection method from the start, arguing it may cause unnecessary suffering in violation of the Constitution.
In a recent court filing, Spivey stated, "This execution subjected Ms. Pike to unnecessary pain and violated her right to be executed without cruel and unusual punishment."
The Tennessee Department of Correction issued a statement defending its procedures, saying it followed all legal steps properly and had approval from the state's Attorney General's office.
They also asserted the efficacy of the chemicals, stating, "The chemicals used for lethal injection have consistently met efficacy standards, and the protocol does not permit any additional steps beyond those already taken."
However, this is not the first failed lethal injection in Tennessee in 2026. In May, the execution of Tony Carruthers was canceled after officials could not find a vein for the injection, resulting in a one-year reprieve.
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Source:bbc