Tennessee governor orders review of Christa Pike’s failed execution

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered a third-party review of Christa Pike’s failed execution and paused executions across the state for the rest of 2026. [1] [2]

The pause affects Gary Wayne Sutton, whose execution was scheduled for 3 December. His was the only other Tennessee execution scheduled this year. [1] [2]

The Associated Press reported that Lee had indefinitely postponed both Pike’s execution and the state’s other scheduled execution. [2]

Update

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered a comprehensive third-party review of the failed execution of Christa Pike. He said it should “determine exactly what occurred” after Pike survived a lethal-injection procedure on Wednesday, 30 September. [3] [7]

The review follows differing accounts of the procedure. Tennessee’s Department of Correction said it followed every step of its execution protocol and that the protocol allowed no further procedures. Pike’s lawyers alleged problems including difficult vein access, blown veins and degraded pentobarbital. [5] [6]