# Christa Pike survives failed execution in Tennessee

> Christa Pike, 50, survived a failed lethal injection in Tennessee and remains critical.
- Title: Christa Pike survives failed execution in Tennessee | Shortify
- Summary: Christa Pike, 50, survived a failed lethal injection in Tennessee and remains critical. Christa Pike survived a failed execution attempt in Tennessee and…
- Keywords: christa pike, death penalty, tennessee, pentobarbital, riverbend maximum security institution, tennessee office of the post-conviction, emory university, news, world, politics, Christa, Pike
- Source: MercoPress — https://en.mercopress.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-survives-a-failed-execution-in-tennessee-and-remains-in-critical-condition
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: christa pike, death penalty, tennessee, pentobarbital, riverbend maximum security institution, tennessee office of the post-conviction, emory university, news, world, politics
## Christa Pike survives failed execution
Christa Pike, 50, survived a lethal injection attempt in tennessee and remains in critical condition according to her lawyers.

> Christa is alive right now. we don't have a sense of her prognosis, but we do know that she is alive and receiving life-saving medical care
## State protocol followed but execution incomplete
The state followed its execution protocol but the procedure was not completed as the woman remained breathing nearly an hour later.
## Defence alleges protocol issues
Pike's defence claimed difficult vein access, blown veins, degraded pentobarbital and lack of emergency medical care during the procedure.
## Medical expert analysis
Emory University professor Joel Zivot said the drug likely did not reach sufficient blood levels causing potential brain injury.
## Pike's conviction and background
Pike was convicted of murdering colleen slemmer in knoxville in january 1995 when she was eighteen years old.
## State execution protocol history
Tennessee paused executions in 2022 after an investigation found prison officials did not follow drug-testing rules and resumed in 2025.
## Key takeaway

Christa Pike survived a failed execution attempt in Tennessee and remains in critical condition after being given both doses of pentobarbital as per state protocol.