Pike Woke Up With Two Questions
Christa Pike, 50, regained consciousness almost six days after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her. According to attorney Randy Spivey, her first reported words were, “Where am I?” She also asked, “Who are you?” Spivey said Pike is aware of what happened to her up to a point, but remains angry and confused. Her comments came after attorneys had feared she would not survive the execution attempt at all.
Her Condition Remains Unclear
Spivey said that on Monday night, attorneys understood Pike to be brain dead and expected life support to be removed the following day. Then, on Tuesday, she woke up and began talking, surprising everyone involved. Pike’s lawyers said she still cannot move her arms or swallow, and her prognosis remains unclear. They also said her arms were burned and blistered during the attempted execution and that she is handcuffed to her hospital bed. Her recovery is expected to be long, assuming her condition continues to improve.
What Happened During the Execution Attempt
Pike received two lethal doses of pentobarbital on Sept. 30, according to the report. She was sentenced to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer. The failed execution has now become the subject of a court fight over evidence and access to Pike. During a hearing in Nashville, her attorneys asked the court to ensure that records and materials connected to the attempt were not lost, changed, or discarded.
Judge Orders Evidence Preserved
The Davidson County Chancery Court ordered Tennessee prison officials to preserve evidence from the execution attempt, including log books, medical waste, and messages sent or received by officials involved. Judge I’Ashea Myles said anything in the execution room needed to be preserved and maintained. The judge also granted Pike’s attorneys liberal access to their client and ordered prison officials to respond within two hours to requests for in-person visits. Luke P. Ihnen, an assistant federal defender in Knoxville, called the order a first step toward preserving and enforcing Pike’s constitutional rights after what he described as an unprecedented failed execution.
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