US Supreme Court Clears Execution Before Botched Attempt
The US Supreme Court cleared the path for Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike to be executed by overturning a final-moment reprieve. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued the application to vacate the execution stay. The Tennessee governor declined to halt the execution of the state's sole woman on death row. Pike, who is 50 years old, has remained on death row awaiting execution following her 1996 conviction and death sentence for murdering Colleen Slemmer. The lethal injection was initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday before a lower court's judges temporarily paused the procedure.
Lawyers Report Critical Condition After Failed Execution
Following the legal clearance, Tennessee prison officials administered two lethal doses of pentobarbital to Pike on Wednesday. According to her lawyers, Pike survived the two lethal injection attempts and is currently in critical condition while receiving life-saving care at a hospital. Witnesses recounted the failed execution attempt. This incident marks the second time during 2026 that Tennessee officials attempted and failed to execute an inmate.