Christa Pike’s failed execution means this death row inmate is saved for the moment

Christa’s Pike failed execution attempt has saved the life of death row inmate Gary Wayne Sutton weeks before he was due to have the lethal injection.

Pike, 50, was set to become the first woman put to death in Tennessee in two centuries for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer.

Her execution via lethal injection was scheduled for 30 September and she was taken into the chamber as planned where she said what she believed to be her final words.

"I’m going to leave this world the way I spent most of my life, and that is with love,” she said.

"I’m at peace, I’m ready to be free. This is a happy day."

However, witnesses at the execution described shocking scenes, claiming that after she was administered the injection, Pike said: “My arm feels like it’s about to burst open.”

Christa Pike is still alive following her execution attempt (Tennessee Department of Corrections)

She then appeared to sense something has gone wrong, and asked: “Does this happen like that?”

Pike’s legal team have since confirmed that despite being given two syringes of pentobarbital she is still alive and had been rushed to hospital for life-saving treatment.

In an update over the weekend, her team said she 'remains critically ill' and ‘may not fully recover’.

In a statement after the execution attempt, the Tennessee Department of Correction said it had followed ‘every step’ of the standard protocol.

"The Tennessee Department of Correction followed every step of the state’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office," the statement said.

"The lethal injection chemical in the protocol has consistently been effective, and the protocol does not allow for additional procedures beyond what was carried out this evening. Christa Pike has been transported to an off-site medical facility."

Following the botched execution, Tennessee's prisons chief Frank Strada announced he was stepping down from the role.

Meanwhile, the state said all executions would be paused until an investigation into the matter was carried out.

That halt on executions, means that death row inmate Gary Wayne Sutton will no longer be put to death in December.

Gary Wayne Sutton has spent more than three decades on death row (WVLT)

Sutton, 57, has spent more than 30 years on death row for the 1992 murders of Tommy Griffin, 24, and Connie Branam, 34.

He and his uncle James Dellinger were found guilty of killing the siblings and they were both given the death sentence.

Dellinger died in 2023 aged 71.

Sutton has always claimed he is innocent and his legal team have fought to have his conviction overturned.

He was initially scheduled to be executed in 2022, but this was paused and then rescheduled for 3 December this year.

However, with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announcing a pause on all executions through to the end of the year, the date will now be revised again.

Lee said: “Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State’s most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective.

“Therefore, the remaining scheduled execution will not be carried out this year.”

Sutton’s legal team, who are from the Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender, said in a statement: “This news gives us little joy, because nobody should be forced to suffer the way Christa Pike did this week and Tony Carruthers did in May.

“Still, we are relieved that Governor Lee is taking the deep problems with the state’s execution protocols seriously, and we are thankful that Gary’s execution has been paused.”

The statement added: “While the state interrogates its own procedures, our work on Gary’s behalf continues. Gary, his family and those who know him have all maintained his innocence for more than 30 years.

"In addition, Gary’s documented intellectual disability prohibits his execution by both state and federal law. We are confident the courts will agree and make Gary’s temporary stay of execution permanent.”