Tennessee Reviews Lethal Injection Process After Botched Execution
Lee defended the agency, saying it followed protocol.
TIME has reached out to the state’s Department of Correction and Pike’s attorneys for comment.
“There was no reason to expect it to not work,” Lee said. “But something didn’t go well or right last night, and we need to find out why.”
Attorneys say execution attempt amounted to ‘chemical torture’
Randy Spivey, an attorney with the Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender, said Pike endured a “torturous” experience in the execution chamber. Pike’s left arm was pierced by at least seven needles, and her right arm turned purple, he said. She said her arm felt like it was “about to explode,” her attorneys said.
Pike’s attorneys suggested that the drugs may have entered her arm tissue instead of directly into her bloodstream. They described it as “chemical torture.”
Pike remained cooperative throughout the multiple execution attempts and tried to help her executioners, her attorneys said. “She over and over again said, ‘Please try up on my shoulder higher. Please try here. Please try here,’” Spivey said.
