Death Row Inmate Christa Pike Issues Statement Following Botched Lethal Injection Attempt
US death row inmate Christa Pike released her first public statement since surviving a botched lethal injection attempt in September, detailing the ongoing physical and psychological pain she has experienced. She remains incarcerated for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.
BBC World
Christa Pike, a US death row inmate, released a statement on Friday detailing her condition following a failed execution attempt by lethal injection in September. Pike, who is 50 years old, described enduring both physical and mental suffering since the incident.
In her statement, Pike asserted that she has felt pain since the night of the attempt, noting that her body, arms, hands, and throat hurt, and she continues to struggle with speech. She stated that the pain extends beyond the physical realm, affecting her mind and soul.
Pike was discharged from the hospital at the end of last month after surviving two doses of the drug pentobarbital, which left her in critical condition. She has since been returned to the prison where she has served 30 years for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.
Pike is noted as potentially the only person to survive an execution attempt by lethal injection. She expressed deep hurt regarding the incompetence involved in the process, stating she had not contemplated life beyond that night.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has taken action regarding the case, pausing all executions for the remainder of the year and ordering an independent review to determine exactly what occurred during Pike's attempted execution. Lee indicated that her sentence would likely remain unchanged unless the courts determine otherwise.
Bethany Mann, a friend of Pike and founder of Child Arise Tennessee, confirmed she has been in contact with Pike since the botched attempt. Mann expressed concern that Governor Lee has shown little public willingness to reconsider the death penalty itself, focusing instead on procedural changes.
Colleen Slemmer, who was brutally killed by Pike and her then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, in 1995, was the victim of the crime. Shipp was spared the death penalty because he was not legally an adult at the time of the offense.
May Martinez, Slemmer's mother, who attended the botched execution, has publicly called the event a "mess" and stated that she believes the state owes her an apology, emphasizing that her sole desire was justice.