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Christa Pike is ‘up and walking’ for first time after failed execution, lawyer says

the GuardianEnglish

About this story

Recovery marks a dramatic turnaround for Pike, who was declared brain dead after a botched execution in Tennessee

Summary from the Guardian

Section: US news
By: Adam Gabbatt
Published: Oct 8, 2026, 12:32 PM UTC
Updated: Oct 8, 2026, 4:02 PM UTC

How other outlets describe it

A lawyer says the murderer of Colleen Slemmer is moving around her hospital room after surviving two lethal injections.

BBCUnited KingdomChrista Pike now walking after US execution went wrong, lawyer says

Stephen Ferrell said he assumed Pike's situation would "keep improving," but added that "there could be some permanent damage."

YahooChrista Pike walking for the first time after failed execution, lawyer says

‘She’s back, she’s alive, we’re happy about that, but she’s not mentally fully recovered,’ says attorney Stephen Farrell

The IndependentUnited Kingdom‘Angry and confused’ Christa Pike is walking for first time after botched execution, lawyer says

Topics in this story

#christa #pike #walking #time #failed

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Background

Context from Wikipedia on the organisations, people and places in this story.

Christa Pike

American murderer on death row (born 1976)

Christa Gail Pike is an American convicted murderer on death row in Tennessee. In 1995, when she was 18, Pike and her boyfriend lured their 19-year-old classmate Colleen Slemmer into a wooded area in Knoxville where they tortured and killed her. Over roughly thirty minutes, Slemmer was beaten, slashed, and had a pentagram carved in her chest before Pike killed her by crushing her skull with a chunk of asphalt.

Tennessee

U.S. state

Tennessee, officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the southwest, and Missouri to the northwest. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. According to the United States Census Bureau, the state's estimated population as of 2024 is 7.22 million.

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12 other outlets reported this story in the last 3 days.

Christa Pike now walking after US execution went wrong, lawyer saysBBCUnited Kingdom2 hr. ago
Christa Pike walking for the first time after failed execution, lawyer saysYahoo7 hr. ago
‘Angry and confused’ Christa Pike is walking for first time after botched execution, lawyer saysThe IndependentUnited Kingdom6 hr. ago
Christa Pike is 'up and walking' after botched execution — and she remembers: 'She is angry'New York Post7 hr. ago
Christa Pike Is Now Walking After Surviving 2 Lethal Injections During Botched Execution, Lawyer SaysPeople.com46 min. ago
Christa Pike ‘up and walking’ after botched execution – What we knowWION3 hr. ago
Christa Pike Is ‘Up and Walking’ Around Hospital Room 1 Week After Her Failed ExecutionUs Weekly44 min. ago
Death Row Prisoner Christa Pike Walking and Speaking After Failed Execution AttemptDemocracy Now!3 hr. ago
Christa Pike’s attorney says she’s ‘up and walking’ more than a week after botched execution930 WFMD Free Talk38 min. ago
Christa Pike's lawyers speak after court hearingFOX 10 Phoenix2 hr. ago
Christa Pike's attorney says she's 'up and walking' more than a week after botched executionFox NewsUnited States55 min. ago
Christa Pike now walking after failed US execution, lawyer tells BBCYahoo News Canada8 hr. ago

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Christa Pike is ‘up and walking’ for first time after failed execution, lawyer says

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Christa Pike

Tennessee

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Christa Pike

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