Christa Pike is conscious, speaking after botched execution, attorneys say

By Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast. Read Full Bio October 6, 2026 / 5:34 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Christa Pike, a death row inmate who was subjected to a failed execution attempt in Tennessee last week, is conscious and speaking from her hospital bed, her attorneys said Tuesday. Pike survived the state's Sept. 30 attempt to execute her by lethal injection. She has been hospitalized since. In a statement Tuesday, her attorneys said that she was "conscious, speaking, and continues to receive critical medical care," but noted that "her prognosis remains unclear" and "at a minimum" they "expect a long recovery."They also said that "despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she is still handcuffed and shackled to the bed."Pike was given two lethal doses of pentobarbital, but according to media witnesses, the execution was canceled when it was determined she had not lost consciousness and still had a heartbeat. She was then taken by ambulance to an area hospital. One of her attorneys, Steve Ferrell, told "CBS Mornings" on Monday that doctors were working to clear her body of the pentobarbital. Pike was convicted in the 1995 murder of a former classmate, 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Pike was 18 at the time. In the wake of the failed execution, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said the state's prison chief, Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada, will resign. Lee also said that all remaining scheduled executions in the state this year have been canceled amid a review of Pike's botched execution.This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates. In: Tennessee Execution Doctor says he warned Christa Pike's lawyers that her execution could be cruel and painful 05:22 Doctor says he warned Christa Pike's lawyers that her execution could be cruel and painful (05:22)