Tennessee halted the execution of Christa Gail Pike after a failed lethal injection, marking the first time a woman has been executed in the state in over 200 years. Pike, 50, was scheduled for execution at 10am Wednesday but was found alive and snoring after two doses of pentobarbital were administered.
Pike's attorneys reported she was alive and snoring after the injections, leading to her being taken to a hospital. The execution had been scheduled at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, with witnesses present. The state ordered an investigation into the failed execution, with Governor Bill Lee stating a third-party review would be conducted.
The US Supreme Court overturned a stay granted by a lower court, allowing the execution to proceed. This follows a previous failed execution in Tennessee this year, highlighting the state's challenges in carrying out capital punishment. The case has drawn attention due to Pike's history of childhood trauma and mental health issues, which were previously considered in her sentencing.