Death row inmate Christa Pike, 50, is showing signs of recovery after surviving a botched lethal injection in Tennessee, her legal team has confirmed. Pike survived two administrations of pentobarbital during the state's attempt to carry out the execution for the 1995 beating and murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer.
Pike was not fatally affected by the substance and has been left with burnt and blistered arms, her solicitors reported. In the initial days following the attempt, Pike remained unconscious and required ventilator support in hospital.
Regaining Consciousness
Defying expectations, she regained consciousness on Tuesday, after early concerns she might have sustained irreversible brain damage. Her legal representatives stated it was "to the shock of everyone" when she awoke and started communicating.
Randy Spivey informed journalists on Wednesday that she posed two questions immediately upon waking: "Where am I and who are you?" He stated: "I do not have an explanation for what happened between Monday night and Tuesday morning, but what we do know is that Christa has a long road to recovery."
Health Update and Legal Concerns
On Thursday, her solicitors provided an updated assessment of her condition. She managed "limited" steps on Wednesday and needed some support while walking on Thursday. They further noted that she was able to consume food for the first time and is recovering some movement in her arms. Nevertheless, the solicitors stressed that questions persist regarding her physical rehabilitation and her legal status after the unsuccessful execution.
Spivey revealed on Wednesday that his client has experienced "extraordinary" swelling to her hands, which he likened to "if you tried to blow up a surgical glove." She also initially regained consciousness with a blood clot and pneumonia, and was unable to swallow, eat or move her badly swollen arms. "I don't know what function she will regain," he stated.
Legal Team's Statements
Thursday's statement read: "Christa is dealing with the profound psychological trauma of having survived a failed execution, including the terror, pain and uncertainty of believing she was about to die." The legal team further argued at the press conference that the botched execution of their client was "foreseeable." Mr Spivey maintained it was "foreseeable and foreseen," claiming that the state of Tennessee had been cautioned in advance about the potential outcome.
He went on to say: "What happened to Christa is exactly what the state was warned would happen, and there are so many questions that need to be answered, not by Christa - but by the state of Tennessee. One of those questions has to be, 'how much suffering is enough?'"
Spivey noted that Pike had complications with her veins that courts had previously been informed of, which may explain why the lethal execution was unsuccessful. He further stated that Pike was "at peace" prior to the execution being carried out, and "kind and polite" while officials attempted to put her to death. Spivey told the press conference that he believed she now feels "angry and confused," and is asking about people. He said: "She has wanted to know what's happened, and she's asked about several people. I think she is angry and confused about everything right now."
Victim's Family and Next Steps
May Martinez, the mother of Pike's murder victim Colleen Slemmer, revealed she had a sense Pike would pull through. She also expressed doubts that Tennessee would pursue a second attempt to execute her daughter's killer, speaking in an interview with NBC affiliate WBIR. WBIR asked Martinez what her preference would be for what happens next to Pike, to which she responded, "It doesn't matter what I think. They're going to do what they're going to do."
Pike remains restrained to her hospital bed in Tennessee while authorities deliberate over her fate. Her legal team has called for her shackles to be removed. Attorney Luke Ihnen told Judge l'Ashea Myles: "My understanding is one hand is shackled and her feet are shackled. Medical personnel have requested that her hand at least be unshackled, given the extensive damage done to her arms and hands."
Whether a further execution attempt will be made remains uncertain, though her legal team have strongly opposed the prospect. They stated: "She should never be subjected to another execution attempt."
