Christa Pike 911 calls reveal confusion after botched execution

New 911 calls and dispatch logs have revealed the chaotic and confused scene following the botched execution of Christa Pike, a case that continues to spark debate about the death penalty and the definition of a "miracle."

The Botched Execution and Emergency Calls

On the night of Christa Pike's scheduled execution, after receiving two lethal doses of Pentobarbital, the protocol for execution, she did not die. Instead, witnesses reported she was merely snoring on the execution table. This unexpected turn of events triggered a series of 911 calls, two of which have now been obtained by the Associated Press through a public records request. One call came from Pike's attorney, Kelly Gleason, and another from the prison itself.

Gleason's call, made at approximately 8:40 p.m. (over an hour after the lethal injection began), conveyed the urgency of the situation: "My client Christelle Tikeke is undergoing a state execution. She has completed the stages of the protocol and last we knew from the attorney who's present, she is still alive and breathing and needs immediate life-saving care." The dispatcher, seemingly already aware of an ongoing situation, confirmed that other calls had come in and that responders were en route, but were waiting for the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) to facilitate entry into the maximum-security institution. The dispatcher's tone suggested a degree of confusion, further highlighted by the need for a specific "code" to verify the legitimacy of emergency requests from the prison, a measure in place to prevent hoax calls.

The second call, from a prison official, further underscored the disarray. The official requested emergency medical services for a "50-year-old patient" and, when asked for a code, a beeped-out response was given, indicating the use of a verification system. It wasn't until about 30 minutes after the initial call that prison officials confirmed the legitimacy of the emergency, allowing responders through the gates. Ambulances were later seen arriving during a press conference held by journalists who had witnessed the execution attempt.