NASHVILLE, TN (WOKI) – Attorneys representing Christa Gail Pike say the Tennessee death row inmate continues to make physical progress more than a week after a failed execution attempt that left her unconscious and initially believed to have suffered catastrophic injuries.
In an update released Thursday, Pike’s legal team said she is now walking with assistance, her arms are healing and regaining strength, and her lungs remain clear. Attorneys also reported that she has advanced to a regular diet as her recovery continues.
Despite those improvements, Pike’s attorneys said significant concerns remain about her neurological condition.
According to the update, Pike is continuing to experience cognitive difficulties, including problems with memory and concentration. Her attorneys said it may take months before doctors can determine whether she sustained permanent cognitive damage as a result of the events surrounding the Sept. 30 execution attempt.
The latest update follows a dramatic turn in Pike’s condition earlier this week. Her attorneys previously reported that she regained consciousness on Oct. 6 after several days of being unresponsive. They said that just hours before she awoke, there were concerns that she could be brain-dead.
The recovery has become a central issue in an ongoing legal battle surrounding the execution attempt.
On Oct. 7, a Davidson County judge ordered the State of Tennessee to preserve all evidence connected to the execution chamber and the failed execution procedure. The order came after Pike’s attorneys requested that materials, equipment, records, and other evidence be protected as they continue investigating what occurred.
The preservation order is expected to play a key role in any future court proceedings examining the circumstances surrounding the execution attempt and Pike’s subsequent medical condition.
Pike remains under medical care as attorneys and state officials continue to address the legal and medical questions raised by the unprecedented case.
