A former lawyer for Christa Pike has stated he was not surprised by Tennessee's botched attempt to execute her, as attorneys had previously warned that issues with accessing her veins could make the procedure dangerous and potentially cruel. James Crowson, who represented Pike during part of her post-conviction appeals, said he had followed the case before the failed execution at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville on 30 September.
Crowson, who worked for the Tennessee Post-Conviction Defender, noted that defense filings had indicated Pike had compromised veins, which would put her at risk for the problems that occurred. Pike, 50, remained hospitalised and on a ventilator on Sunday after two doses of pentobarbital failed to kill her, according to an attorney now representing her.
Pike's current attorneys allege that improperly placed intravenous lines caused the drug to enter tissue rather than her bloodstream, severely injuring both arms. The Tennessee Department of Correction maintains it followed every step of the state's lawful execution protocol and that the protocol did not permit additional procedures after those carried out on Wednesday.
Following the incident, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced on Saturday that Frank Strada, the Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner, would resign later in October. Lee has also ordered an independent review and halted executions in the state for the remainder of the year.