Death row inmate Christa Pike, who survived two lethal injections, has been discharged from hospital and returned to detention, her legal representatives have confirmed. The 50-year-old is now back at the Deborah K. Johnson Rehabilitation Centre, the women's prison where she had spent three decades on death row. She remains under medical supervision within the facility.
Statement from her solicitors
Her solicitors announced on Saturday: "She is grateful to the first responders and her medical team for their care in these extraordinary circumstances. She is continuing to receive medical care at the prison, and we will continue to track her recovery."
Pike endured two administrations of pentobarbital when Tennessee authorities attempted to carry out her execution on 30th September for the 1995 fatal beating and stabbing of fellow student Colleen Slemmer.
Hospitalisation and recovery
Pike had been hospitalised following the botched execution. She was placed on a ventilator at one stage, with her legal team fearing the worst, though Pike regained consciousness and started communicating and mobilising with support.
According to the Death Penalty Information Centre, Pike is the first individual to survive after being administered lethal injection drugs during an execution attempt. Tennessee's Department of Correction has yet to disclose what malfunctioned during the procedure.
Medical professionals and lethal injection specialists have concentrated on whether complications with the intravenous line resulted in the drug accumulating in her tissue rather than reaching her bloodstream. Pike's legal team stated in court documents that "apparently at no point did any member of the execution team realise that the IV lines were not correctly placed."
Execution attempt details
When the procedure commenced, Pike was invited to make a final statement, responding that she felt at peace. Roughly five minutes afterwards, she lifted her head and complained of pain in her arm.
Subsequently, she seemed to slip into unconsciousness but audible heavy breathing continued until media observers were removed from the witness area almost 90 minutes after the execution began. She was transported by ambulance to hospital.
Political reaction
Concerns are also growing about potential consequences should Tennessee attempt to execute Pike a second time.
The state is due to elect a new governor in November, with Republican contender Marsha Blackburn presently leading in polls to replace Bill Lee following his second term. Blackburn has already proposed using the electric chair after the unsuccessful lethal injection.
Addressing Pike's situation, she remarked: "While there should be a thorough review of what happened and why the process failed, the answer is simple: bring back the electric chair and deliver justice for these victims swiftly."
