“I agree with Governor Lee that a thorough review is necessary. When a criminal viciously takes another human being's life and is lawfully sentenced to death, the state of Tennessee must be able to carry out that sentence effectively and uphold justice for the victim and their family. … If the investigation finds that lethal injection is not a reliable method carrying out lawful death sentences, we must consider alternative methods and improved protocols.
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Christa Pike Survives Two Doses of Pentobarbital and Tennessee Halts Executions for the Rest of 2026 — Gov. Bill Lee Calls It "a Tragedy," Marsha Blackburn Says "Bring Back the Electric Chair," and Democrats Say "a State That Can't Even Follow Its Own Rules Has No Business Killing Anyone"
October 2, 2026
On the night of Sept. 30, 2026, Tennessee tried to execute Christa Gail Pike — the only woman on the state's death row, convicted of the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville — and failed. A state appeals court had stayed the execution that morning; the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the stay later in the day. Witnesses at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution said Pike was still breathing, and audibly snoring, after two doses of pentobarbital. Media witnesses were escorted out, and Pike was taken from the prison by ambulance. Death penalty researchers called it unprecedented. It was the state's second botched execution of the year. In May, the execution team spent more than an hour failing to place an IV in Tony Carruthers. On Oct. 1, Gov. Bill Lee ordered "a comprehensive, third-party review" and halted the one execution still scheduled for 2026. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee for governor, called for bringing back the electric chair. Republican legislative leaders backed Lee's review but said lethal injection may need to be replaced, and House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he wants to add potassium chloride to the protocol. Democratic legislators called for legislative oversight of the Department of Correction and for a suspension of the death penalty.
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Statements Recorded
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10 Statements
“This situation is tragic. Christa Pike should have been executed long ago. Now, this botched process is extending the pain for the family of Colleen Slemmer. While there should be a thorough review of what happened and why the process failed, the answer is simple: bring back the electric chair and deliver justice for these victims swiftly. As your governor, I will do just that.
“Tennessee strapped a woman to a gurney, pushed two syringes of gray-market pentobarbital into her arm, bought with your tax dollars from suppliers the law lets them hide, and then closed the curtain so nobody could watch it fail. This is not normal. … I have said it on the House floor and I will say it again: the death penalty is incompatible with the right to life. A state that can't even follow its own rules has no business killing anyone. Governor Lee has one more execution on his calendar before he leaves office. Cancel it today.
“When the state acts, it acts in all of our names. What happened last night at Riverbend is not who we are. Because of prior failures, our governor, attorney general, and other State officials had knowledge of the likelihood for issues of this type to arise during the execution. Yet, they reportedly failed to be on-call or accessible during the act to appropriately respond in a timely manner. Accountability is not optional when the state is taking a life.
“[Speaking to reporters:] This is a tragedy. It's deeply disturbing to me that that has happened in this state. … The people of Tennessee have determined that the death penalty is the appropriate penalty for the most heinous crimes.
“[Statement halting executions for the rest of the year:] Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State's most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective. … I have ordered a comprehensive, third-party review.
“I fully support Governor Lee's call for a review. Our immediate priority must be determining exactly what went wrong, why it happened and who was responsible. Tennessee law provides the death penalty for the most heinous crimes, and those lawful sentences must be carried out efficiently and deliberately. Tennessee must ensure its execution process is reliable, effective and professional.
“Some will rush to the defense of Christa Pike, but the only ones who matter in this case are Colleen and the Slemmer family. … While a few will argue the death penalty isn't humane - was Colleen's murder humane? Justice wasn't carried out last night due to an error. In the coming months, I will work with my senate counterparts to investigate this failure and past failures to make sure this doesn't happen again. We will look at all options - expanding the alternatives, and changing the current medications to include potassium chloride. Thirty years is too long for justice.
“The state's mismanagement of death row cases is cruel and inhumane. What happened Wednesday night was not an isolated failure. It is a pattern. … The Department of Correction says it followed every step of its protocol. If that is true, the the protocol itself is a problem. The governor's third-party review is a start, but it is no substitute for oversight. It is time for the General Assembly to exercise its oversight function over the executive branch. … This pattern of mismanagement is more proof that the death penalty is a failed policy.
“Tonight, another botched lethal injection has lead to the unnecessary agony of Christa Pike, the state of Tennessee has shown a clear pattern of failure and subjected those sentenced to cruel and unusual punishment. It is a violation of the Constitution and a stain on our justice system. Governor Bill Lee must suspend the death penalty going forward in light of these barbaric practices.