In brief
Emergency call records from Riverbend Prison show a frantic scramble after a botched lethal injection of convicted murderer Christa Pike. The 30‑September execution failed when the pentobarbital dose did not kill; Pike was rushed to hospital, only to be returned to prison. Records reveal a disconnect between prison staff and first‑responders, delaying treatment and amplifying chaos. The incident has prompted a statewide pause on executions and an investigation into the protocols that allowed such confusion.
Emergency call records released by the Nashville Banner expose a chaotic night at Riverbend Prison when a botched lethal injection attempt on March 30, 2026, left convicted murderer Christa Pike alive and hospitalized.
Pike, 50, who strangled Colleen Slemmer in 1995, received two doses of pentobarbital at 20:40 local time. An on‑site staff member radioed that the injection had begun, the drug was pending effect, and an ambulance was needed because the victim was not yet deceased. The call was initially flagged as bogus because the operator could not verify the caller’s code.
At 21:07, central command staff denied making the initial call, and only at 21:11 did the Nashville Department of Emergency Communications confirm the call’s authenticity, allowing ambulances to access the prison. The delay meant Pike’s transport to a medical facility was delayed by nearly an hour, a factor officials say contributed to her temporary survival.
- 20:40 – First emergency call from Riverbend Prison reporting an ongoing execution with 10g of pentobarbital administered.
- 21:07 – Prison command insists the call was not made by staff.
- 21:11 – Official verification of the call and permission for medical transport.
- 21:34 – Physician notes the confusion and asks for clear communication of Pike’s location during transport.
The state Department of Corrections has yet to release a full statement, while Pike’s lawyers say the chemical likely spread just beneath the skin rather than into her bloodstream, preventing death. Pike was eventually discharged from a hospital after regaining the ability to walk and speak, though her legal team warns of a “long road to recovery.”
This incident marks the first time an execution by lethal injection has survived. It has sparked a debate over the death penalty’s reliability, with some Tennessee Republicans calling for a new execution method. Governor Bill Lee has placed a moratorium on executions for the remainder of the year while an investigation probes the error and the corrections chief has announced his resignation.
For more details, read the full emergency call transcript on the Nashville Banner.
