Tennessee Execution Attempt for Christa Pike Fails
Christa Pike, Tennessee's only woman on death row, remains alive after her lethal injection execution attempt on Wednesday at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution failed. The execution, which faced a day of court challenges and a last-minute stay before being allowed…
Nashville, TN, October 1, 2026 —
An execution attempt for Christa Pike, the sole woman on Tennessee’s death row, was unsuccessful on Wednesday. The lethal injection procedure took place at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.
The execution was preceded by a day filled with legal challenges and a last-minute stay that ultimately allowed the proceedings to move forward.
Reports indicate that the lethal injection did not achieve its intended effect, leaving Pike alive. Further details regarding the exact circumstances of the procedural failure were not immediately available.
Christa Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. Pike is noted as being the only woman currently facing execution in the state of Tennessee. The execution was scheduled following the resolution of various legal appeals.
The failure of the lethal injection procedure raises questions about the process and its execution. State officials have not yet released a comprehensive statement on the reasons behind the failure or what the next steps will be. The outcome means Pike remains on death row, with her execution halted due to the reported procedural issue.
Story summarized from the original created by Li Cohen on www.wsmv.com, see more information here.
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