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Judge orders Tennessee to preserve evidence from Christa Pike’s botched execution
Oct 8, 2026
New details are emerging about Pike's condition, with her attorneys saying she woke up and is "angry and confused" about the circumstances.
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A Tennessee judge is ordering the state to preserve evidence from Krista Pike's failed
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execution as new details emerge about her condition. Pike is now awake and talking nearly
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a week after receiving two doses of a drug meant to kill her. Her attorneys say she's confused
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can't move her arms or swallow, and is dealing with pneumonia and a blood clot
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Just days ago, they were preparing for the possibility she'd be taken off life support
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Now, they want to know exactly what happened inside the execution chamber last week
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The state still hasn't explained what went wrong during last week's botched execution
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and that brought Pike's attorneys to court Wednesday, asking a judge to order Tennessee to preserve evidence from the execution chamber
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We don't know what they have because they won't tell us. And so the preservation order seeks the broadest possible preservation of evidence
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The judge sided with Pike's attorneys, ordering the state to save evidence from the execution
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In light of the evolving situation, the court will pin and grant its own order
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granting the motion to preserve relevant evidence As a primary matter we want all drugs syringes IV lines tubing that are within the state possession needles catheters medical supplies
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restraints, gurneys, anything that was in the actual room needs to be preserved and maintained
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After the hearing, attorney Randy Spivey described what Pike said when she regained
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consciousness. Our understanding was the first thing she said was where am I and who are you
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There's there's still a lot of cognitive confusion and so I will say that she has wanted to know
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what's happened like she is I think she is angry and confused about everything right now. Pike was
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sentenced to death for the 1995 torture and murder of her 19 year old classmate Colleen Slimmer
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Slimmer's mother says her family has been denied justice and still wants Pike's death
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sentence carried out. Pike's lawyers are asking the governor to commute her sentence to life in prison
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The governor has ordered a review of the failed execution, and Tennessee's prison chief
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has resigned. Prosecutors say they don't know whether Tennessee will try to execute Pike again
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