Christa Pike
Christa Pike is a woman on death row in Tennessee, convicted of murder in 1995.
Notable Quotes
"She doesn't want us to experience that."View Story →
"I was a mentally ill 18-year-old kid. It took me numerous years to even realise the gravity of what I'd done."View Story →
"Ms Pike has lost consciousness and still has a heartbeat and is audibly snoring."View Story →
"Ms Pike has lost consciousness and still has a heartbeat and is audibly snoring."View Story →
"She is alive and receiving life-saving medical care in hospital."View Story →
"What happened to her Wednesday reflects a systemic failure that goes far beyond any one person."View Story →
"Christa Pike is conscious and speaking."View Story →
"angry and confused about Tennessee's failed execution effort"View Story →
""conscious and speaking""View Story →
"Christa is dealing with the profound psychological trauma of having survived a failed execution, including the terror, pain and uncertainty of believing she was about to die."View Story →
Related Stories
Christa Pike has 'profound' health turnaround after botched execution, lawyers say
Pike's lawyers say her recovery is "remarkable" as they give an update on her condition after she survived an execution attempt by lethal injection.
October 9, 2026What Americans think about the death penalty
The BBC spoke to Americans and international tourists in Washington DC about their views on the death penalty following the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee.
October 8, 2026Christa Pike now walking after failed US execution, lawyer tells BBC
A lawyer says the murderer of Colleen Slemmer is moving around her hospital room after surviving two lethal injections.
October 8, 2026Texas carries out first US execution since Christa Pike's botched lethal injections
Lawyers for Jamaal Howard had asked a judge to pause the execution after Christa Pike's botched lethal injections.
October 8, 2026What could happen next in Christa Pike's case?
Christa Pike is conscious after surviving a botched lethal injection, leading many to wonder if the state of Tennessee will try again to execute her.
October 7, 2026Christa Pike 'angry and confused' after failed execution, lawyers say
Lawyers say the convicted killer was surprised to have survived and remained "shackled" to her hospital bed.
October 7, 2026Watch: What we know about Christa Pike's ‘shock’ recovery in hospital
The US death row inmate's legal team said at a press conference that she is now "conscious and speaking" after her failed execution.
October 7, 2026Christa Pike 'angry and confused' about Tennessee's failed execution effort, lawyers say - Reuters
Christa Pike 'angry and confused' about Tennessee's failed execution effort, lawyers say Reuters
October 7, 2026US death row inmate Christa Pike awake and speaking after failed execution, lawyers say
Experts and lawyers called the apparent recovery unprecedented, noting she is believed to be the only known person to survive a lethal injection.
October 7, 2026Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike is conscious and speaking, lawyers say - Reuters
Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike is conscious and speaking, lawyers say Reuters
October 6, 2026Christa Pike's prognosis still unclear after failed execution, lawyer says
Pike's lawyer says doctors are still trying to clear two lethal doses of pentobarbital from her body.
October 4, 2026Tennessee prison chief to resign after Christa Pike's failed execution
Pike's lawyers said the failure "goes far beyond any one person". Pike is in critical condition after surviving two lethal injections.
October 3, 2026US murderer Christa Pike unconscious and on ventilator after failed execution, lawyers say
As of Thursday night, Pike remained critically ill and is being treated at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee.
October 2, 2026How widely used is the death penalty in the US?
The death penalty is back in the news after Christa Pike survived two lethal injection attempts in Tennessee - but how widely used is it in the US?
October 2, 2026Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike unconscious on ventilator, lawyers say - Reuters
Tennessee execution survivor Christa Pike unconscious on ventilator, lawyers say Reuters
October 2, 2026I've seen nearly 500 executions - but never one like Christa Pike's
Texas reporter Michael Graczyk has seen botched executions in his time, but not one in which an inmate survived.
October 2, 2026What we know about Christa Pike’s condition after failed execution
The BBC’s Ione Wells reports from outside the Tennessee hospital where Pike is said to have arrived Wednesday night after surviving two lethal injection attempts.
October 1, 2026Christa Pike is alive and receiving 'life-saving care' in hospital, her lawyers say
Pike had been on death row since she was convicted in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer.
October 1, 2026Christa Pike gets "life-saving medical care" after surviving Tennessee execution - Reuters
Christa Pike gets "life-saving medical care" after surviving Tennessee execution Reuters
October 1, 2026Witnesses recount Christa Pike's failed execution
Witnesses describe hearing Pike complain about pain in her arm, followed by sounds of breathing and snoring for almost an hour before she was taken to hospital.
October 1, 2026What happened in failed execution of Christa Pike - and what next?
The convicted killer is in hospital in Tennessee after surviving two lethal injections, in a case that has raised many questions.
October 1, 2026Watch: The many questions raised by the failed execution of Christa Pike
Her legal team filed an emergency motion to halt the convicted murderer's execution as it was happening.
October 1, 2026US Supreme Court allows execution of Christa Pike to go ahead
The death by lethal injection was scheduled to happen earlier on Wednesday before a lower court paused the execution.
October 1, 2026Watch: Why was the US execution of Christa Pike halted?
The 50-year-old Tennessee woman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer.
September 30, 2026Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted shortly before it was due to happen
Pike was convicted and sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer.
September 30, 2026US Supreme Court denies Christa Pike's last-ditch bid to halt execution
The Tennessee inmate has been awaiting execution since she was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of a teenage classmate.
September 29, 2026Tennessee governor rejects clemency bid for Christa Pike as execution looms
If the execution proceeds, Pike would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
September 28, 2026Christa Pike to be first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years - but her defence say she's a victim too
Lawyers for Pike, who killed a fellow student in 1995, say she should get clemency and would not be sentenced to death if the crime happened today.
September 26, 2026