Prison Chief Resigns After Christa Pike's Failed Lethal Injection

A prison chief reportedly oversaw five botched executions before resigning over the torturous double injection of Christa Pike.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Strada's resignation and called for a full independent review into the failed execution. Strada stated serving was an honor and believed the department followed protocol, but stepping aside was in the best interest of Tennesseans. Christa Pike, 50, remains unconscious and on a ventilator at a hospital, four days after her failed execution on Wednesday, September 30.

Her lawyer, Stephen Ferrell, stated her prognosis might not be known for days and that she is critically ill and may not fully recover. Pike was set to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years. Pike and her boyfriend allegedly slashed Slemmer with a box cutter, beat her with asphalt, and carved a satanic symbol into her body.

The attempted execution was delayed for over eight hours as the U.S. Supreme Court considered and ultimately overturned a federal appeals court ruling to halt her lethal injection. Pike's lawyers had requested an all-female lethal injection team, which was granted. Colleen Slemmer's mother, May Martinez, traveled from Florida to attend the execution and expressed anger over its failure, stating Pike was on the table, talking, still laughing and that witnesses reported hearing Pike breathing and snoring very loudly after the failed attempt. Governor Lee has postponed the state's only remaining execution for the year.