Christa Pike's Botched Execution Witnesses Reveal Traumatizing Details After Death Row Inmate Survives Two Lethal Injections

Christa Pike's execution was halted after she remained alive following two doses of lethal injection, leaving those in the room to bear witness to the unusual event.

RadarOnline.com can reveal the 50-year-old woman was administered two doses per protocol, but witnesses described her survival, raising chilling questions and the possible medical aftermath.

For Pike's execution, members of the media and additional witnesses were present. After giving her final words, Pike was taken to be killed with a lethal drug mix.

However, when the two rounds failed, she was taken to the hospital, as no additional protocol was left to be followed, and she was in immense pain.

Catherine Sweeney of WPLN, after the execution was paused, described: "She was still breathing at the end, it was very ragged, she lifted her head up and was looking around at one point. She said there was a spot that was burning and hurting and asked if that was normal."

The reporter described the occurrence, even the necessity of two rounds, as "not normal" in her time covering executions.

Pike described her arm as "throbbing."

WKRN reporter Tori Gessner said, "My arm feels like it's about to bust."

Pike's execution was issued a stay by the courts on Wednesday, September 30. However, the injection continued at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution’s death chamber around 7:30 p.m. CDT, just one hour after the stay was overturned.

However, when the execution went awry, Pike was taken to a nearby hospital. Her lawyers informed the media she was being treated with "life-saving measures."

Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, said Pike could have a "brain injury" as a result of the mishap.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee put a pause on all remaining scheduled executions until the end of the year while the government investigates the rare occurrence.

"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,” he said.

Advocacy groups demanded the death penalty be permanently abolished, citing the outcome as a reason.

Laura Porter, executive director of the US Campaign to End the Death Penalty, said in a statement: "The state of Tennessee has shown the world it cannot be trusted to implement capital punishment in a way that preserves human dignity and the rule of law. This has to stop now."

Pike's status on Thursday morning is unknown.

She was sentenced to death at just 18 years old after killing her classmate, Colleen Slemmer, in 1995 alongside her boyfriend and best friend. The trio lured Slemmer out of school and toward nearby woods where they tortured her, bashed her skull in, and carved a pentagram onto her chest.

Pike was ultimately sentenced to death by electrocution for the murder charge and 25 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, despite her co-conspirators receiving lesser punishments.

If the injection were successful, Pike would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years.