Sentencing committee resigns after botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee

A new development took place last week after the failed execution of Christa Pike, the first female prisoner planned to be executed by lethal injection in the US state of Tennessee after nearly 200 years.

After Pike survived despite being given two doses of a lethal drug, Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) Commissioner Frank Strada resigned from his position.

In his statement, Strada said his departure from office was in the best interest of the state and called the ongoing investigation into the incident "entirely appropriate and necessary."

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said, "Commissioner Strada carried out his duties with integrity. I appreciate his willingness to put the interests of the people of Tennessee first during this difficult time."

Authorities have not yet made a statement on whether Pike's execution will be carried out again.

PİKE SURVIVED AFTER TWO DOSES OF POISONIC NEEDLES

Christa Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for torturing and murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, whom she met with her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp, at a training camp for troubled youth in 1995, when she was only 18 years old.

Pike, a 50-year-old murder convict who is the only female prisoner sentenced to death in Tennessee, was wanted to be executed by two lethal injections at Riverbend Maximum Security Prison in Nashville last Wednesday at 20:00 local time. Pike, who received two doses of lethal injection, survived.

Defense lawyers said, "Ms. Pike lost consciousness, but she still has a pulse and is breathing audibly." Lawyers stated that after the execution failed, Pike was sent to the hospital and taken into intensive care.