The Brief A lawyer for Christa Pike says the death row inmate has not regained consciousness since the state's failed execution Wednesday night. It may be days before anyone knows whether Pike can recover. If she does, it's unclear what may happen in her death penalty case.



Christa Pike has not regained consciousness in the four days since her failed execution in Tennessee, one of her attorneys said Sunday.

The update comes a day after the state's prison chief announced his resignation as investigators try to determine what led to the  deeply disturbing  attempt at carrying out Pike's death sentence.

What is Christa Pike's condition?

What we know:

Pike has remained hospitalized under guard since Wednesday night, as doctors try to get the massive dose of the lethal barbiturate pentobarbital out of her system.

Christa Pike (Photo: TN Department of Correction)

What we don't know:

Attorneys said they may not know for several more days whether or not Pike can recover.

What they're saying:

Pike's lawyer, Assistant Federal Defender Stephen Ferrell, appeared on CNN's  State of the Union  Sunday morning and said he does not believe Pike has ever regained consciousness since the botched execution attempt.


 We don't know right now, and we may never know what sort of torture she endured during that process, where her consciousness was, what physical pain there was - what mental torture she went through,  Ferrell said.

Pike gave someone her medical power of attorney and that person is protecting her privacy, Ferrell said.

 I'm not sure what all they may have told that person,  Ferrell said.

Pike's attorneys have not identified who is making Pike's medical decisions.

Who is Christa Pike?

The backstory:

Pike was 18 years old when she and her boyfriend tortured and killed a classmate, Colleen Slemmer, in a jealous rage in 1995. Before her failed execution Wednesday, she was set to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years.

A federal appeals court briefly paused the execution Wednesday and

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