Christa Pike's doctor reveals exactly what condition she is in after waking up following botched execution
A medical doctor advising Christa Pike's legal team has said the 50-year-old has been removed from a ventilator and can now speak.
Following two failed attempts by the State of Tennessee to execute Pike via lethal injection, the convicted murderer was rushed to hospital to receive life-saving care.
Dr Joel Zivot, a medical professional assisting Pike's team, has shared an update on her condition with PEOPLE and his thoughts on what her recovery will look like.
"I was told yesterday that she had recovered sufficiently that she was able to be removed from her mechanical ventilator and was able to speak," he said, adding that she does not remember her execution at the moment but noted that her 'memories may continue to evolve'.
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When it comes to her recovery, Zivot noted that it was too soon to share a prognosis for Pike, but said that her current condition puts her in a 'good position' going forward.
"I think it’s still early, critically ill patients tend to move in a variety of ways," he said.
"The fact she is doing something now puts her in good position, but I wouldn’t suggest it’s smooth sailing from here and there won’t be any residual impact."
Meanwhile, Stephen Farrell, one of Pike's lawyers, revealed to Radio 4 that she is now 'up and walking' for the first time since the execution.
"She is up and walking for the first time today, just around the room, not very far," he said, adding that her arms are still 'very injured' from the failed attempts to insert IV lines, meaning that she can't 'use them very much'.
Zivot previously revealed that Pike was able to communicate in a basic way with those around her, but seemed confused about the fact that we were now in October.
Her first words are reported to have been: "Where am I and who are you?"
Pike's attorney Randy Spivey previously said that his client has a 'long road to recovery', telling reporters that she had a 'blood clot in one of her arms' as well as 'pneumonia'.
"She is not able to swallow yet, so she has not eaten," he added.
READ MORE: All of the failed lethal injection executions in the last decade
Why was Christa Pike on death row and what happens next?
Christa Pike received the death sentence after being convicted of the 1995 murder of her Job Corps classmate Colleen Slemmer.
Pike, her then-boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp and their friend Shadolla Peterson lured Slemmer to an isolated part wooded area in Knoxville. Pike and Shipp then beat Slemmer to death while Peterson acted as a lookout for the couple.
Shipp was sentenced to life in prison as he was only 17 and therefore not eligible for the death penalty, while Peterson received probation after becoming a witness for the prosecution.
It's not currently clear whether or not the state of Tennessee will attempt to execute Pike again at a later date. Executions in the state have currently been paused while an investigation is carried out.
Brenna Cooper