‘My arm is about to bust’: What death row inmate Christa Pike said during failed lethal injection

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike, who was sentenced to death by lethal injection, has survived her execution. Her lawyer has claimed two failed attempts were made, and she is now in hospital. 

According to reports, her legal team filed an emergency motion to stop the convicted killer’s execution while it was happening, as it had been noted “Ms Pike has lost consciousness and still has a heartbeat and is audibly snoring.”

Pike was set to be the first woman in Tennessee to be executed in 200 years. The now 50-year-old was sentenced to death on March 30th 1996, after torturing and killing her classmate in a jealous rage because she thought she was attempting to “steal” her boyfriend at the time, Tadaryl Shipp. 

Pike, who was 18 at the time, and Shipp, 17, lured 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer into the woods, beat her for 30 minutes, carved a pentagram into her chest and forehead and killed her by hitting her head with a large piece of asphalt. They both confessed to the killing, and were convicted of first-degree murder.

via TDOC

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The lethal injection attempt took place at 8pm local time (around 1am UK time this morning). A witness to the execution said Pike was heard saying: “My arm feels like it’s about to bust. One spot is really throbbing.”

According to reports she then said she was going to leave this world the same way she spent most of her life: “in love,” and then said she “had love for the people who were out here hating on her.” 

Her final words before seemingly falling asleep were: “I’m at peace. I’m ready to be free.” She finally spoke of celebrating her freedom, and then closed with: “This is a happy day.” She was heard breathing the entire time. 

After being injected with two syringes of pentobarbital, Pike is now in hospital “being provided life-saving measures”. It is currently unclear what will happen if she survives. 

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