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Failed execution: What's next for Christa Pike?
Legal questions remain as Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, survived a double dose of the lethal drug used to execute prisoners in the state. Peter Christiansen, a criminal defense attorney spoke with LiveNOW's Josh Breslow about the next steps in the process.
Christa Pike is conscious and speaking after she survived a failed attempt to execute her, according to her attorneys.
What they're saying:
"Against all odds, Christa Pike is conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care. Despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed. Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery," attorneys for Pike said in a statement on Tuesday.
Christa Pike failed execution
Dig deeper:
Pike was on a ventilator for days following a failed attempt to execute her last week.
She survived two doses of pentobarbital as Tennessee officials attempted to put her to death.
This was the second time this year Tennessee has not been able to execute a prisoner who was seemingly moments away from death. In May, Tennessee stopped the execution of Tony Carruthers after staff placed an IV into his right arm but couldn’t get a secondary IV line.
Prisons chief resigns
Big picture view:
The stunning failure has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee called it "deeply disturbing" and called for an independent investigation.
RELATED: Arizona's history of botched executions resurfaces after Tennessee lethal injection fails
Over the weekend, Lee announced that Frank Strada, commissioner of the Department of Corrections, will resign this month.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Strada said his resignation is "in the best interest of Tennesseans" while an independent investigation determines what happened to Pike.
"I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred," Strada said.
Christa Pike (Photo: TN Department of Correction)
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 said more time was needed to consider her lawyers’ last-ditch appeals, but the Supreme Court allowed the execution to proceed after a nine-hour delay.
The state’s Republican governor declined to intervene and allow Pike to serve a life sentence.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from reporting by The Associated Press and previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. This story was reported from San Jose.