Christa Pike, 50, is continuing to recover weeks after a botched execution attempt in Tennessee left her unconscious and unable to communicate, her attorney has said in a new update.
Pike survived two massive doses of pentobarbital after the state attempted to execute her for the 1995 murder of classmate Colleen Slemmer. The lethal drugs failed to kill her, leaving her arms burned and blistered. She spent days unconscious and breathing through a ventilator in intensive care, with doctors fearing she was brain-dead. She defied expectations by waking up on Tuesday and began talking.
Improvement in Physical and Speech Abilities
Her attorney told TMZ that Pike is now able to walk more on her own, and her speech has improved, allowing her to communicate more clearly and form full sentences.
Monitoring of Cognitive and Psychological Functioning
However, her attorney said her cognitive and psychological functioning are still being monitored, and it could take another month or longer before there is a clearer picture of any potential long-term effects from the ordeal.
