# Death row inmate discharged after botched execution

> Christa Pike survived two lethal injections on September 30 and has been released from hospital after regaining consciousness, in what experts say is unprecedented.
- Title: Death row inmate discharged after botched execution · BBC News
- Summary: Christa Pike survived two lethal injections on September 30 and has been released from hospital after regaining consciousness, in what experts say is…
- Keywords: christa pike, lethal injection, failed execution, tennessee, death penalty, pentobarbital, news, world, Death, row, inmate, discharged
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmlyle97pqd7o
- Published: 2026-10-10T15:28:10.759+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: christa pike, lethal injection, failed execution, tennessee, death penalty, pentobarbital, news, world
## Inmate survives lethal injection
Christa Pike, fifty, survived two injections of pentobarbital on September thirtieth at a Tennessee prison. She has now been discharged from hospital and returned to prison.
## Pike regains consciousness
Pike regained consciousness earlier this week and began speaking, stunning experts, medical staff and her lawyers. Her first words were Where am I and Who are you.

> Where am I? Who are you?
## Unprecedented survival
Pike is thought to be the only person to have survived an execution attempt by lethal injection. Her case is now in uncharted legal and medical territory.
## The crime and conviction
Pike was eighteen when she and her then-boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp beat, tortured and killed nineteen-year-old Colleen Slemmer at a job training camp.
## Pike's condition after discharge
Pike is suffering from pneumonia and significant swelling on her arms, and is unable to swallow. Her lawyer Randy Spivey said she felt angry and confused about her mental health.

> We don't know the toll all of this will take
## State's next move unclear
At a court hearing on Wednesday, Tennessee Assistant Attorney General Will Ayers told the judge he did not know whether the state intends to try to execute Pike again.
## Key takeaway

Christa Pike, fifty, survived a failed execution by lethal injection and has been discharged from hospital back to prison, in what is thought to be the first such survival.