Tennessee Stops Execution After Prisoner Survives

Governor Bill Lee ordered a halt to all executions for the rest of the year after a death‑row inmate survived two lethal injection attempts.

Christa Pike, 50, was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of 19‑year‑old Colleen Slemmer. She was 18 when the brutal crime took place and is said to have been the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in over 200 years.

During Wednesday’s attempt, Tennessee prison officials administered two doses of pentobarbital, but Pike survived and was rushed to a hospital. Her medical condition remains unclear.

Lee called the incident a “highly disappointing” event for Tennesseans and said it was the state’s most serious responsibility to carry out lawful executions. He has ordered a third‑party review to determine exactly what happened, though no reviewer has been named.

The pause will overlap with the planned December 3 execution of convicted murderer Gary Sutton, who faces a similar lethal‑injection protocol.

Pike’s lawyers said she needed life‑saving measures after the botched execution. The Tennessee Department of Correction defended its handling, claiming the protocol remained effective and followed all established steps.

This is the second failed execution attempt in Tennessee in 2026. Earlier in May, the execution of Tony Carruthers was called off after staff could not locate a vein to administer the lethal drug, and he received a one‑year reprieve.

If you want to read more, click here.