# The Tennessee Department of Correction has defended its actions after officials were unable to put Christa Pike to death on Wednesday evening. Prison officials administered two lethal doses of pentobarbital to Pike, but she survived and was taken to hospital. The 50-year-old was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer. The department says it followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has halted the one remaining execution for the rest of the year.
Tennessee Department of Correction defends ‘botched’ execution of Christa Pike