Christa Pike’s first words after surviving execution: ‘Where am I?’ attorney says

Christa Pike , who regained consciousness almost six days after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute her, is aware of what happened and “angry and confused,” one of her attorneys said Wednesday (October 7, 2026).

Pike, 50, survived despite receiving two lethal doses of pentobarbital on Sept. 30. She was sentenced to death for the 1995 beating and stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer.

“She is very aware of what they did to her up to a point,” attorney Randy Spivey said following a court hearing in Nashville where a judge told the state to save evidence from the execution attempt.

“On Monday night, it was our understanding that Christa was brain dead and that life support would be removed the next day,” Mr. Spivey said. “But on Tuesday, to the shock of everyone ... Christa woke up and began talking.”