The head of Tennessee’s prison system, Frank Strada, is resigning following a failed lethal injection of Christa Pike, a convicted murderer. This unsuccessful execution left Pike hospitalized and on a ventilator. Governor Bill Lee announced Strada’s resignation, stating it is in the best interest of Tennesseans while an independent review investigates the incident.

Strada expressed his support for the review, acknowledging the need to determine the details of what went wrong during the execution. According to Strada, stepping down aligns with prioritizing the interests of Tennesseans.

I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred, Strada said.

Governor Lee praised Strada’s integrity and his decision to prioritize the state’s interests during this difficult time. Lee accepted Strada’s resignation and expressed gratitude for his dedication to a smooth leadership transition. Pike, 50, received two doses of pentobarbital on the night of the attempted execution, with prison officials attempting to locate a vein with seven needles. Court documents indicate that Pike was heard crying and whimpering during the process.

Christa Pike, convicted for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, was taken to the hospital for intubation and ventilator support following the execution attempt. Pike’s legal team welcomed Strada’s departure but argued that systemic failures extend beyond a single individual. They support the governor’s call for a comprehensive review of Tennessee’s death penalty system.

Pike’s lawyers claim the execution staff failed to correctly place the IV lines, resulting in some pentobarbital not entering her body properly. During her trial in 1996, Pike confessed to killing Slemmer out of jealousy over her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Shipp was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility, while another accomplice, Shadolla Peterson, received a lighter sentence after testifying against them.

Strada took office in January 2023, following service as Arizona’s deputy corrections director. In late 2024, he announced that Tennessee would exclusively use pentobarbital for executions. Since last year, Tennessee has executed four individuals.

Pike’s execution would have marked the first time a woman was executed in Tennessee since 1819. The Associated Press provided assistance in this report.