The Brief Christa Pike is awake and speaking after surviving Tennessee's execution attempt. She remains hospitalized with severe arm injuries and an unclear prognosis. Her attorneys expect Pike to face a long recovery.



Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after she survived a failed attempt to execute her, according to her attorneys.

What they're saying:

 Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care. Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery,  attorneys for Pike said in a statement on Tuesday.

Christa Pike failed execution

Dig deeper:

Pike was on a ventilator for days following a failed attempt to execute her last week.

She survived two doses of pentobarbital as Tennessee officials attempted to put her to death.

This was the second time this year Tennessee has not been able to execute a prisoner who was seemingly moments away from death. In May, Tennessee stopped the execution of Tony Carruthers after staff placed an IV into his right arm but couldn't get a secondary IV line.

Prisons chief resigns

Big picture view:

The stunning failure has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called it  deeply disturbing  and called for an independent investigation.


Over the weekend, Lee announced that Frank Strada, commissioner of the Department of Corrections, will resign this month .

In a statement to The Associated Press, Strada said his resignation is  in the best interest of Tennesseans  while an independent investigation determines what happened to Pike.

 I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred,  Strada said.

Christa Pike (Photo: TN Department of Correction)

Who is Christa Pike?

The backstory:

Pike 

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