Tennessee Pauses Executions After Pike Survives Lethal Injection
Christa Pike survived an execution attempt in Tennessee. It happened late Wednesday with lethal injection.
Staff gave her two injections of a drug called pentobarbital. A federal appeals court briefly stopped the execution.
But the US Supreme Court lifted that stop. Pike was then taken to hospital.
Her lawyer said she was receiving life-saving treatment. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee paused all remaining executions this year.
He also ordered an outside review of what happened. This was the state's second failed execution this year.
In May officials could not carry out Tony Carruthers's execution. They failed because they could not place an IV line.
Tennessee's corrections department said staff followed proper protocol. But witnesses said curtains blocked parts of their view.
Pike was convicted of murdering a classmate three decades ago. This was Tennessee's first try to execute a woman in 200 years.
Key Terms 4
- pentobarbital A drug used in lethal injection executions.
- IV line A thin tube placed in a vein for injections.
- corrections department The state agency that runs prisons.
- stay A court order that temporarily stops an action.