Tennessee death row inmate describes ongoing pain after failed lethal injection

Christa Pike spoke publicly for the first time since surviving a lethal injection in Tennessee, describing a state of constant physical and mental distress. The 50-year-old inmate said she struggles to speak and has been largely isolated in a prison hospital since the procedure last month.

In a statement dictated to her legal team, Pike said she is deeply hurt by the incompetence that has put many people in a terrible position. She expressed thoughts for the family of her victim, acknowledging the pain and loss they have endured.

Pike and her boyfriend killed 19-year-old classmate Colleen Slemmer by torture and stabbing in 1995. Pike was 18 at the time of the crime, making her one of the youngest women sentenced to death in the state. Slemmer’s mother traveled from Florida to witness the execution.

Pike’s legal team asserts that two doses of pentobarbital likely failed to enter her bloodstream correctly. They say the drug pooled in her arms, causing burns and blisters. She was unconscious and placed on a ventilator for several days. At one point, her lawyers stated they did not expect her to survive.

Pike detailed her current condition in the statement. She noted that there has not been a moment since the night of the execution when she has not been in pain. She listed specific areas of discomfort, including her body, arms, hands, and throat. She also described mental and soulful pain beyond the physical injuries.

The inmate said she was prepared to die in peace but instead woke up alone and confused in a hospital bed. She described herself as searching for meaning in the events. Pike stated that she does not know why she survived or what comes next.

Pike remains under a death sentence, though her attorneys are requesting that Tennessee Governor Bill Lee change it to life in prison. The Republican governor told reporters this week that he suspects her sentence will remain the same unless courts determine otherwise.

The governor appointed a former U.S. attorney to conduct an independent review of the failed execution. He also postponed the state’s other lethal injection scheduled for this year. Frank Strada, the commissioner of the Department of Correction, announced his resignation following the incident. His final day is October 31.

Attorneys had previously warned that Pike’s small veins and a diagnosis of thrombocytosis could make IV access difficult. Court documents show the execution team struggled to insert working IV lines. They expressed concern that a vein might blow. Pike remained awake for much of the process, reporting that her arm hurt and burned before losing consciousness. The execution began just before 7:30 p.m., and an ambulance arrived at the prison about an hour and 45 minutes later.

A 2025 deposition from prison Warden Kenneth Nelson was released with court documents this week. Nelson stated that the execution team does not practice inserting IV lines during training sessions at the directive of the prison commissioner. He said he did not know why the practice was discontinued or when the order was given. Practicing insertion was part of the prior protocol but is not included in the new one. A spokesperson for the department said she could not comment due to pending litigation.