Tennessee pauses executions after failed lethal injection of Christa Pike

A Tennessee department spokesperson said the agency had "followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office" and that the lethal-injection chemicals "have consistently been effective." Governor Bill Lee ordered an independent review to determine exactly what occurred and announced a pause on all executions through the end of the year. He also said Correction Commissioner Frank Strada will step down at the end of October, noting the departure is "in the best interests" of the state.

Lee did not rule out a second attempt on Pike’s sentence, stating, "I suspect her sentence will be the same as before, unless determined otherwise by the courts." He has declined to commute her death sentence to life imprisonment. Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn said she would resume executions and expand available methods if elected, while Democratic opponent Jerri Green said she would block any executions while in office.

Pike’s attorneys expect a prolonged legal battle should the state move forward. A judge this month ordered the state to preserve evidence from the attempted execution, including syringes, IV lines, drugs and personnel logs. State prosecutors previously said there was "no pending execution order" and they had not heard of one forthcoming.

The mother of Pike’s victim, May Martinez, called on Tennessee to "make this right" and keep Pike on death row. Pike, who participated in the 1995 murder of a classmate, said she continues to think about the victim’s family and expressed gratitude to first responders and medical staff for treating her with "compassion, dignity and respect." She added that she does not know why she survived the injection and is seeking meaning and hope as she recovers.