Christa Pike Survives Execution, Governor Refuses To Commute

A Medical Miracle in a Death Chamber

Christa Pike is alive and speaking after the state tried to kill her twice. This is a medical fact that defies every expectation for a lethal injection. Her lawyers say she survived two full doses of pentobarbital last Wednesday. She suffered severe burns and blisters on her arms during the failed attempt. Doctors worked for an hour just to get an IV line into her arm. One of the needles even appeared bent when pulled from her skin. Her recovery is medically unprecedented, yet the state still plans to try again.

She was unconscious and on a ventilator before she woke up this Tuesday. Her attorneys confirmed she is now conscious and speaking to them. They called her survival “against all odds” in a public statement. The state of Tennessee has suspended all executions scheduled for this year. However, the governor has not ruled out putting her to death later. This leaves the state in a legal and moral “uncharted territory.” Robin Maher told USA Today that no one knows the answers to these new questions.

The Governor’s Stance on Justice

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has refused to commute Pike’s sentence so far. He says his job is to uphold the sentences that juries have handed down. Pike was found guilty of the 1995 murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer. She was only 18 when she became the youngest woman on death row. Lee claims the people of Tennessee decided the death penalty fits her crime. He stated his responsibility is to ensure those sentences are carried out. The New York Post reported that Lee has resisted repeated pleas from her lawyer.

Pike’s lawyer Stephen Ferrell told CNN that another attempt will not bring justice. He wants the death penalty taken off the table immediately. The botched execution caused Pike to cry and whimper during the procedure. Her arms were swollen, burned, and blistered according to court filings. Despite this pain, the state wants to move forward with her execution. The Supreme Court has not decided if a second attempt would violate the constitution. A case from 1947 involving Willie Francis remains the only guide they have.

Experts say it could be weeks or months before we know her full prognosis. Dr. Joel Zivot notes her competency might be restored for a future execution. Her lawyers say they will keep asking the governor to change her sentence. They want life in prison without parole instead of another execution attempt. The state ordered an independent review of what happened in the chamber. This is only the second time Lee has postponed an execution in seven years. The New York Post notes that the state continues its efforts despite the complications.

The question remains whether a second attempt would be unconstitutional under the law. Robin Maher suspects it would likely be unconstitutional to try again. He claims she has already suffered a torturous ordeal within that chamber. The only thing Maher is certain of is that she should not face a second one. The state must decide if justice means killing a woman twice. That is a choice the Governor has not yet made for himself.