Nashville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Attorneys representing death row inmate Christa Pike are asking a Tennessee court to order the preservation of a wide range of evidence connected to the state’s failed execution attempt, arguing the material could prove critical in determining what went wrong inside the execution chamber.
The emergency motion, filed Oct. 2 in Davidson County Chancery Court, seeks an order requiring the Tennessee Department of Correction to preserve physical, written and electronic evidence related to Pike’s Sept. 30 execution attempt.
A hearing on the request is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, before Chancellor I’Ashea Myles in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville.
What Evidence Attorneys Want Preserved
According to court filings, Pike’s attorneys are seeking preservation of virtually all materials associated with the execution, including:
- Needles, IV catheters and other medical equipment used during the procedure
- Remaining drugs, syringes and related medical supplies
- Surveillance and security video from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution
- Written notes, logs and records created during the execution
- Emails, text messages and other communications among correctional officials
- Training records and employment records for members of the IV team
- Emergency medical response records
- Documentation surrounding the decision to transport Pike to a hospital
- Other physical and electronic evidence related to the execution attempt
The attorneys are also seeking access to Pike so independent experts can document her medical condition following the failed execution.
Allegations Raised in Court Filing
The emergency motion alleges execution personnel encountered significant difficulties obtaining IV access before administering the lethal injection drugs.
According to the filing, at least seven needles were reportedly used during attempts to establish intravenous access, and one needle was allegedly bent at a 90-degree angle when removed. Attorneys further contend Pike offered guidance to the execution team regarding possible vein locations during the procedure.
The motion alleges that despite encountering problems, execution personnel ultimately administered two sets of pentobarbital syringes.
Pike survived the procedure and was transported to a Nashville-area hospital, where attorneys have said she suffered severe injuries to her arms.
State Opposes Request
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office has asked the court to dismiss the request, arguing that state agencies are already obligated to preserve evidence and that the motion is unnecessary and duplicative. State attorneys have also argued that some of the materials sought may not be relevant to the underlying lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s lethal injection protocol.
Why the Hearing Matters
The hearing marks the first major court proceeding since Pike survived what was intended to be her execution.
The outcome could determine what evidence remains available for future litigation, investigations and Tennessee’s ongoing review of its execution procedures. Gov. Bill Lee has already paused executions and ordered an independent review into the failed execution attempt.
The case has generated intense scrutiny nationwide and already has contributed to significant fallout within the Tennessee Department of Correction, including the announced resignation of Commissioner Frank Strada.
Background
Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Knoxville Job Corps student Colleen Slemmer. Tennessee attempted to execute her by lethal injection on Sept. 30 after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court stay earlier that evening. Despite receiving two doses of pentobarbital, Pike survived and was transported to a Nashville hospital.
What’s Next
Chancellor I’Ashea Myles is expected to hear arguments at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville on whether the state must preserve the extensive list of evidence requested by Pike’s legal team. A ruling could shape both the ongoing investigation into the failed execution and any future legal challenges involving Tennessee’s death penalty protocol.
