Botched Execution Exposes the Brutality of State Violence: Christa Pike Survives Lethal Injection

The state of Tennessee attempted to murder Christa Pike on Wednesday. It failed. Pike, a 50-year-old Black woman on death row, was administered two doses of pentobarbital, the lethal injection protocol, yet she remained alive, reportedly snoring loudly as witnesses watched in horror. This is not a malfunction. It is the logical outcome of a carceral system built on violence, one that consistently fails to uphold even its own barbaric standards.

Pike was convicted in 1996 for the brutal murder of Colleen Slemmer. Her crime was horrific, and the pain inflicted on Slemmer's family is immeasurable. But the state's response, a botched execution that left Pike gasping for air, does not deliver justice. It perpetuates a cycle of violence that targets the most marginalized among us, particularly Black and brown bodies, and it does so under the guise of law and order.

What happened during the botched execution?

Witnesses observed Pike strapped to a gurney at 7:27 PM. Her last words, reportedly, were:

“I'm going to leave this world the way I spent most of my life and that is in love.”

She described herself as being at peace. Then the state injected her with pentobarbital. Twice. At 8:53 PM, she was found alive, loudly snoring. She was rushed to a hospital, her condition unknown.

This is not an anomaly. It is a pattern. The Death Penalty Information Center's Robin M. Maher called what happened to Pike “unparalleled”, noting that while seven others have survived failed attempts to find a vein, no one had remained alive after receiving the lethal injection drugs. The state's violence is so profound that it cannot even be administered competently.

Why is the death penalty a systemic issue?

The death penalty is not a standalone act of justice. It is a tool of systemic oppression, deeply intertwined with racism, classism, and ableism. Since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, over 1,600 inmates have been executed. Only 18 have been women, representing about one percent of all executions. The state is more comfortable killing men, particularly Black and brown men, than it is acknowledging the humanity of those it deems disposable.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered a review, stating that carrying out a sentence must be “legal and constitutional, but is effective.” This framing is a distraction. The question is not whether the execution was effective. The question is why we, as a society, continue to sanction state murder at all.

What is pentobarbital and why is it controversial?

Pentobarbital, known as Nembutal in the US, is a barbiturate that slows brain and nerve activity. It is used in executions, but also in euthanasia and assisted dying cases globally. It was invented in the late 1800s and has been used to carry out 14 executions in the US this year alone. The Biden administration previously removed it from federal protocol due to concerns about unnecessary pain and suffering. The Department of Justice reauthorized its use this year, a decision that reflects a broader commitment to carceral violence.

This is not about a single drug or a single botched procedure. It is about a system that dehumanizes individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, and treats them as objects to be disposed of. The state's violence is not an aberration. It is a feature.

What does this mean for the abolition movement?

Christa Pike's survival is a stark reminder that the state's violence is not inevitable. It can be resisted. It must be resisted. The abolitionist movement, which centers the voices of those most impacted by the carceral state, demands an end to the death penalty and the dismantling of the prison-industrial complex. This is not a radical fantasy. It is a necessity.

May Martinez, Colleen Slemmer's mother, told the Associated Press:

“Every time I think about it, I think about Colleen feeling that pain and trying to get up and run.”

Her pain is real. But the answer to that pain is not more pain. It is a reckoning with the systems that produce such violence in the first place.

Frequently asked questions about the botched execution

Did Christa Pike survive the execution attempt?

Yes. Christa Pike was administered two doses of pentobarbital but remained alive, reportedly snoring, and was rushed to a hospital. Her condition is unknown.

What is the death penalty's impact on marginalized communities?

The death penalty disproportionately targets Black and brown individuals and those from low-income backgrounds. It is a tool of systemic racism and classism, not a neutral act of justice.

What is pentobarbital used for?

Pentobarbital is a barbiturate used in executions, euthanasia, and assisted dying cases. It is controversial due to its potential to cause unnecessary pain and suffering.

What is the abolitionist stance on this?

Abolitionists argue that the death penalty is a form of state violence that must be dismantled. The botched execution of Christa Pike is a clear example of why the carceral system cannot be reformed; it must be abolished.