A prison warden has testified that execution teams for Tennessee death-row inmates did not practice inserting IV lines during training sessions. The testimony follows the botched execution of Christa Pike, 50, on September 30, when she survived two massive doses of pentobarbital.
The lethal drugs failed to kill her, leaving her arms burned and blistered. According to 911 dispatch recordings, it took 31 minutes for prison officials to confirm that a request for emergency medical assistance was legitimate after confusion between prison staff and first responders delayed the response.
Details of the botched execution
Following the failed execution, Pike spent days unconscious and breathing through a ventilator in intensive care. Doctors feared she was brain-dead. She woke up on Tuesday and started talking. She was later released from the hospital and returned to prison, where she has continued receiving medical care. Her attorneys previously said she was struggling with confusion, memory issues, and significant physical injuries.
After being rushed to hospital, one of Pike's lawyers, Randy Spivey, said she suffered "extraordinary" swelling to her hands, which he described as looking like "if you tried to blow up a surgical glove."
Warden's testimony on training
According to the court filing, the warden said the Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner directed that IV lines not be inserted during practices. The warden also testified that the team did not practice or prepare for emergencies, reports WSMV.
In the latest health update, Pike's attorney told TMZ she's continuing to improve physically and is now able to walk more on her own. Her speech has also improved, and she's now able to communicate more clearly and form full sentences. However, her cognitive and psychological functioning are still being monitored, and it could take another month or longer before there's a clearer picture of any potential long-term effects.
What happens to Pike now?
Governor Bill Lee addressed whether Pike would still face the death penalty weeks after her failed execution. He said: "As it related to a particular individual like Christa Pike and her crime, she's still incarcerated under the laws of the State of Tennessee. I suspect her sentence will be the same as before unless determined otherwise by the courts," WSMV News reports.
Lee has since postponed the state's only other scheduled execution this year and ordered a review of why the execution failed.
