Christa Pike’s attorneys say botched execution was “cruel,” “torturous” and “predictable”

October 1, 2026 / 6:58 PM EDT / CBS News

Attorneys for Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike, who survived the state's attempt to execute her by lethal injection Wednesday night, are calling for her sentence to be commuted after she endured what they said was a "cruel," "torturous," and "predictable" botched execution.

"The state of Tennessee has shown us again that they are not capable of carrying out an execution consistent with basic human dignity," attorney Randy Spivey told reporters Thursday during a news conference. "Last night was not just inefficient, it was cruel, and it was torturous. It was also predictable."

Spivey and Steve Ferrell, another attorney representing Pike, said they informed the state months ago that Pike was likely to endure an agonizing death due to a blood condition and prior difficulties finding veins by other medical professionals.

"Christa has endured punishment greater than any other person in the history of the American death penalty," Spivey said. "The governor must commute Christa's sentence now."

Pike was in critical condition and receiving lifesaving medical care as of Thursday afternoon, but further details on her condition weren't readily available.

"We don't have a sense of her prognosis or much…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/