Christa Pike survived two doses of the lethal injection drug during a failed execution attempt, but new details reveal that she was left in critical condition and suffered serious injuries.
The 50-year-old death row inmate remained unconscious, intubated and on a ventilator at a hospital following the Sept. 30 execution attempt, according to a new court filing from her attorneys. Doctors were working to save her life and clear pentobarbital from her system.
Her attorneys said both of Pike’s arms were swollen, burned and blistered when she arrived at the hospital. They allege that problems establishing IV access caused the lethal drug to leak into surrounding tissue instead of properly entering her bloodstream. The filing says at least seven needles were used during attempts to establish an IV line, with one reportedly removed bent at a 90-degree angle.
Witnesses also described Pike making sounds and movements during the execution. According to her attorneys, she cried and whined at times and said her arm felt like it was about to burst open before asking whether what she was experiencing was normal. After the second dose, witnesses continued to hear breathing and snoring, and the execution was eventually halted.
Pike’s legal team is seeking preservation of evidence from the execution and has raised concerns about the extent of her injuries, including the possibility of damage caused by reduced oxygen or circulation. An independent review has also been ordered, while Tennessee has paused its remaining executions for 2026.