Emergency help for Christa Pike delayed by confusion after failed execution, 911 calls reveal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Emergency help for Christa Pike was delayed because of confusion among first responders and Tennessee prison officials following her failed lethal injection last month, according to 911 dispatch recordings reviewed by The Associated Press.

Records show that precious minutes passed as officials and responders tried to determine whether a request for emergency help in the execution chamber was legitimate. The first call came in at 8:40 p.m. on September 30, and it took about half an hour before prison officials claimed it was legitimate and began letting responders through the prison doors.

“According to DEC (Department of Emergency Communications) supervisors, we were informed that it was a false call,” an unidentified person said at 9:03 p.m. “No medical assistance is needed at Riverbend Prison.”

Four minutes later, a commenter reported, “Someone is standing at the prison gate telling us it’s real and asking us to come in.” They say they are some kind of state representative. I need someone to come out to the door and talk to these people. »

It wasn’t until 9:11 p.m. that prison officials said the call for help was legitimate, the calls show.

LEARN MORE: The latest on the Christa Pike case and previously botched executions in Tennessee

Pike, 50, was hospitalized after surviving two doses of pentobarbital as the state attempted to execute her for the stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer in 1995. At one point, Pike was on a ventilator and her lawyers did not expect her to survive. However, they said Pike woke up and began talking and walking with assistance. She has since been released and is back at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center, the women’s prison where she was held for 30 years.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections has not said what happened during the attempted execution. Medicine and lethal injection experts focused on whether a problem with the IV line was causing the drug to build up in his tissues instead of entering his bloodstream.

Johnson reported from Seattle and Schoenbaum from Salt Lake City.