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Archived story · published October 8, 2026. Coverage reflects reporting at the time. See today's brief

Politics · October 8, 2026

Christa Pike is ‘up and walking’ for first time after failed execution, lawyer says

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Christa Pike is recovering in a hospital following a failed execution attempt in Tennessee on September 30. After receiving two doses of pentobarbital, Pike was initially declared in critical condition and brain-dead before regaining consciousness and beginning to walk short distances within her room. While she is regaining physical mobility, her lawyers report she remains mentally 'foggy' and has suffered injuries to her arms. In response to the event, a court has ordered the preservation of all evidence, Tennessee's governor has paused executions for the remainder of the year, and the state's prisons chief has resigned.

Read the original coverage

Reported across the spectrum

  • Christa Pike survived two lethal injections of pentobarbital on September 30.
  • Pike is currently 'up and walking' around her hospital room.
  • The Tennessee governor has paused all executions for the rest of the year and ordered a third-party review.
  • A judge has ordered the state to preserve all physical evidence and documentation from the execution room.
  • Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.
  • Pike's accomplice, Tadaryl Shipp, received a life sentence because he was a minor at the time of the crime.

Reported by only some outlets

  • One lawyer noted Pike has pneumonia and a blood clot.
  • A lawyer reported seeing seven needles in Pike's arm, one of which appeared bent.
  • Senator Marsha Blackburn suggested 'bringing back the electric chair' for future executions.
  • Pike's lawyers argue her original defense failed to present evidence of childhood abuse.

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