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Supreme Court Lifts Stay After Failed Tennessee Execution Attempts

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 4:12 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Tennessee officials failed to execute Christa Pike after two lethal-injection attempts left her unconscious.
Attorney Randy Spivey warned Pike’s small veins and blood disorder made lethal injection unsafe.
Spivey said the injection lasted about an hour, using at least seven needles, one of which bent.
A federal appeals court stayed the execution 90 minutes before it.
The Supreme Court lifted the stay later.

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Story summary

Tennessee officials failed to execute Christa Pike after two lethal-injection attempts left her unconscious.
Attorney Randy Spivey warned Pike’s small veins and blood disorder made lethal injection unsafe.
Spivey said the injection lasted about an hour, using at least seven needles, one of which bent.
A federal appeals court stayed the execution 90 minutes before it.
The Supreme Court lifted the stay later.