Christa Pike, a 50-year-old death row inmate in Tennessee, was discharged from hospital Saturday, 10 days after surviving a failed execution by lethal injection on September 30. Her lawyers confirmed her return to prison, where she continues to receive medical care.
Pike survived two doses of the drug pentobarbital during the execution attempt. She remained in critical condition and was initially believed to be brain dead, but regained consciousness on Tuesday. Her first words were "Where am I?" and "Who are you?", according to her lawyer Randy Spivey.
At a hospital press conference on Wednesday, Pike's legal team reported she was shackled to her bed and suffering from pneumonia, significant swelling on her arms, and difficulty swallowing. Her lawyer noted uncertainty about the long-term impact on her mental health, describing her as "angry and confused" at that time.
Pike is believed to be the only person to have survived a lethal injection execution attempt. Her case now enters unprecedented legal territory. At a Wednesday court hearing, Tennessee Assistant Attorney General Will Ayers told the judge the state has not yet decided whether it intends to attempt her execution again. The judge ordered Tennessee to preserve all evidence related to the failed injections, evidence that could support a future lawsuit against the state.
Pike was 18 years old in 1994 when she and her then-boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp beat, tortured, and killed 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer at a job training camp for low-income young people. She has spent the last 30 years in prison.
It remains unclear what specific medical care Pike is receiving back in prison. Her lawyers previously stated she faced a "long road to recovery" from the failed execution.