Christa Pike is “angry and confused” after her failed execution, her lawyers revealed one week after she survived two lethal injections in Tennessee.
On Wednesday, October 7, Pike’s attorneys shared an update about how she’s doing during a press conference.
Randy Spivey told reporters that Pike, 50, was considered “brain-dead” on Monday, October 5, according to USA Today. The medical team planned to remove her life support the following day, but she woke up and started speaking on Tuesday, October 6.
While Spivey was not in the room when Pike regained consciousness, the lawyer said he believed her first words were, “Where am I and who are you?”
Spivey did not reveal what Pike remembered from the attempted execution, though he did say she was “very aware the state tried to execute her.”
“She is angry and confused about everything right now,” Spivey told reporters.
The attorney went on to say that Pike has a long road to recovery ahead of her and shared that she has a blood clot in one of her arms, plus her hands and arms are “tremendously” swollen and she has pneumonia.
Additionally, Pike is not able to move her arms, and it’s currently unclear whether she will be able to regain function. As of the press conference, Pike is not able to swallow either and has not eaten.
Pike’s attorneys appeared in court prior to the press conference, and attorney Luke Ihnen said that she was “speaking limitedly.” The legal team also said that they have been unable to get her consent to bring a new lawsuit in light of the failed execution.
While Pike’s future is currently unknown, the judge did order the state to preserve evidence related to the failed execution during the hearing.
Her attorneys have repeatedly called on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to change her death sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Following the failed execution, Lee ordered an investigation into what went wrong. He also called off the state’s only remaining lethal injection that was scheduled to take place this year, as well as announced the upcoming resignation of Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada.
Pike was handed the death sentence in 1996 after she was convicted of first-degree murder for beating, torturing and killing University of Tennessee classmate Colleen Slemmer in a remote area of the school’s campus.
She committed the crime with her then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. While Pike – who was 18 at the time – was sentenced to death, Shipp was sentenced to life in prison because he was a minor when they killed Slemmer, 19. Shipp could potentially be released on parole, though he remains in custody after his last appeal was denied in October 2025.
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