Christa Pike has 'profound' health turnaround after botched execution, lawyers say
Christa Pike, a death row inmate in Tennessee, is recovering after a botched lethal injection attempt. Her legal team reports she is showing signs of physical improvement while dealing with significant psychological trauma.
Why it matters
This case raises ethical and legal questions regarding the death penalty and the viability of lethal injection as a method of execution.
Figure caption, Watch: What we know about Christa Pike's "shock" recovery in hospital
Christa Pike has made a "profound" turnaround after last week's botched attempt to execute her in the US state of Tennessee, her lawyers say.
Pike, 50, was sentenced to death after murdering Colleen Slemmer with her then-boyfriend in 1995. She survived two injections of the drug pentobarbital on 30 September and was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
In a statement on Thursday, Pike's lawyers described her recovery as "remarkable" and said she is able to walk with assistance and is eating. She has also regained some movement in her arms, which were badly injured during the attempted execution, they said.
"Physicians are encouraged by her physical recovery," the statement said.
The case is now in uncharted territory as Pike is believed to be the only person to have survived an execution attempt by lethal injection.
Also covering this story
17 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Christa Pike survived two execution attempts - will authorities try again?
Christa Pike 'angry and confused' about Tennessee's failed execution effort, lawyers say
Judge orders that Christa Pike execution evidence be preserved
Texas carries out first US execution since Christa Pike's botched lethal injection
Texas kills man in first US execution since botched lethal injection of Christa Pike
US death row inmate Christa Pike 'angry and confused' after failed execution, lawyer says
Christa Pike is awake after surviving execution: What happens now?
Christa Pike awake after failed execution, lawyers say
Christa Pike Conscious And Speaking Days After Failed Execution In Tennessee
Christa Pike’s first words after surviving execution: ‘Where am I?’ attorney says
Christa Pike woke asking 'where am I?' after surviving execution, lawyer says
Why did Christa Pike’s attempted execution fail? What medical experts say
Christa Pike now walking after US execution went wrong, lawyer says
Pike 'angry and confused' after surviving execution
Court denies request to halt execution of Texas man in wake of Christa Pike's botched lethal injection
Texas carries out nation’s first execution since Christa Pike’s failed lethal injection
Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after failed execution, attorneys say - The Washington Post
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in