Tennessee's attempt to execute Christa Pike did not succeed after the state administered two lethal injections, according to reports from NBC News, CNN and the BBC. The failure of the procedure drew national attention, with NBC News quoting a description of the event as "a mess."
The New York Times examined how Pike could survive two doses of pentobarbital, the drug used in the attempt. The BBC reported on the failed execution and raised the question of what happens next in the case.
Coverage of the incident extended beyond the specifics of Pike's case. WBAL-TV reported on how frequently executions go wrong, citing data on botched procedures. The BBC and CNN both focused on reconstructing what took place during the attempt.
The reports do not provide further detail on Pike's current condition or the state's immediate plans. The accounts from the outlets above are consistent in describing a procedure that was halted after the second dose failed to produce the intended result.
The failure raises questions about the state's execution protocol and the drug it uses. What happens next in Pike's case, and whether Tennessee changes its procedures, remains to be seen.
