What happens if lethal injection doesn't work during an execution?

If lethal injection does not work, as seen in Christa Pike's case where she remained conscious after receiving doses, the individual may be taken to a hospital for further medical evaluation.

Why was Christa Pike's execution halted by the court?

Christa Pike's execution was halted due to fresh legal challenges raised by her attorneys, prompting the U.S. Court of Appeals to review the case before proceeding.

How has Christa Pike's mental health influenced her requests regarding execution methods?

Pike's mental health concerns, including diagnoses of bipolar disorder and PTSD, have led her legal representatives to argue against lethal injection, suggesting it could trigger traumatic memories from her past.

Christa Pike: What happens if you survive death penalty, lethal injection doesn't work? Details as Colleen Slemmer accused killer taken to hospital

Christa Gail Pike, Colleen Slemmer accused killer lay awake even after she was injected with two doses of pentobarbital.

Updated on: Oct 1, 2026, 09:03:05 IST

By Shirin Gupta

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Christa Pike’s execution for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer did not reach the end even after Pike was injected with two doses of pentobarbital, according to Kelly Avellino of Fox News.

Christa Gail Pike, Colleen Slemmer accused killer lay awake even after she was injected with two doses of pentobarbital.(Photo by Handout / Tennessee Department of Correction / AFP) (AFP)

Witnesses reported that Pike was still awake 40 minutes after the she was given the dosage. They also described the execution as unusually prolonged process and that “nothing we saw was normal.”

According to journalists present inside the execution chamber, curtains were drawn multiple times while Pike reportedly continued showing signs of life, ABC News reported.

Pike is now being taken to the hospital, Avellino reported.

Pike had been scheduled for execution at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville on September 30. Her execution was briefly delayed by a last-minute stay before the US Supreme Court cleared it to proceed later that day.

Also read: What time will Christa Pike be executed? What we know as US Supreme Court overturns last-minute stay

What happened during Christa Pike’s execution?

According to Pike’s attorneys, prison staff administered two syringes containing pentobarbital.

However, the emergency filing alleged she never lost consciousness completely and continued to have a heartbeat after the drugs were delivered. The lawyers requested an immediate halt to the execution and argued Pike required emergency medical treatment.

(This story is being updated)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shirin Gupta
Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues. Shirin has worked on a wide range of fast-moving and developing stories locally when she was at NCC editing accessible reports for the audience. Her current role requires her to track real-time updates, verify information and present balanced coverage across diverse beats. Covering US politics from an international newsroom perspective has further deepened her understanding of how domestic decisions can have far-reaching global consequences. With a keen interest in international affairs, Shirin continues to build her expertise in geopolitics, policy shifts, and cross-border developments. She aims to learn and evolve her reporting in matters of geopolitics and international issues. Outside the newsroom Shirin writes about books and music for her personal blog. She is an avid consumer of pop culture and reveres literature.Read More

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