Death-row inmate Christa Pike survives botched lethal injection, suffers severe burns

In a Tennessee death chamber, Christa Pike received two injections of pentobarbital but survived, later being treated for extensive burns and blisters on her arms. Weeks before the execution she had recorded a statement expressing dread that the drug might “burn very badly,” and she had asked to be executed by hanging, a request that was denied. Her counsel highlighted her history of difficult blood draws, suggesting that the IV may have been improperly placed, allowing the drug to seep into surrounding tissue.

Dr Jonathan I Groner explained that the minuscule dose that entered her bloodstream accounts for her survival, underscoring the botched nature of the procedure. The incident has prompted renewed debate over lethal-injection methods, coming just after Texas carried out its first execution since Pike’s failed attempt. Pike’s attorneys now seek preservation of evidence, noting the lasting physical and psychological trauma she endures.