Tennessee halts woman's execution after 'failed' attempt

The governor of Tennessee ordered a halt to the execution of Christa Gail Pike, convicted of murdering a schoolmate more than 30 years ago, after authorities "failed" to carry out her execution on Wednesday.

Despite being administered two doses of a lethal drug, Pike was found breathing.

The execution had been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. local time at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. The injections were administered in front of witnesses, including journalists.

Pike, 50, was alive and loudly snoring after the attempted lethal injection and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance, her attorneys said.

She received treatment at the hospital, but authorities had not yet informed them about her condition, her attorneys added.

What do we know about the execution attempt?

Pike would have been the first woman executed in the southern US state of Tennessee in over 200 years.

According to media witnesses, who were observing from a separate room, Pike was strapped to a gurney.

"I'm going to leave this world the way I spent most of my life, and that is in love," she said in her "last" words.

By 8:26 p.m., witnesses reported that the second dose of pentobarbital had been given to Pike.

However, Pike was heard snoring behind the closed curtain until the microphone was cut off at 8:53 p.m.

At that time, media witnesses were asked to leave the room.

Tennessee orders investigation into failed execution of Christa Gail Pike

Governor Bill Lee said in a statement that he has ordered "a comprehensive, third-party review to determine exactly what occurred" and that scheduled executions will not be carried out this year.

"Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State's most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective," he said.

Pike's attorney filed an emergency motion late Wednesday with the Tennessee Supreme Court seeking to immediately halt and stay the execution.

In their appeal, they said she was in "unnecessary agony" and that it was violating her right to be executed free of cruel and unusual punishment.

This is the second time an execution has failed in Tennessee this year. In May, Tony Carruthers' execution by lethal injection failed.

Pike was 18 when she and her boyfriend committed the murder she was convicted for.

"I was a mentally ill 18-year-old kid. It took me numerous years to even realize the gravity of what I'd done," Pike had said in an earlier statement.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher

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