The lawyer for Christa Pike is urging Tennessee officials to commute her death sentence following a failed execution attempt that left her critically ill. Pike, who was convicted in 1995 for the murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer, survived a botched lethal injection administered on Wednesday, which involved a double dose.

Stephen Ferrell, Pike’s attorney and an assistant federal defender, described the ordeal as a “torturous” punishment and argued that it should be sufficient given the seriousness of her crime. Speaking on Sunday, Ferrell called on Governor Bill Lee to prevent any further execution attempts, stating that repeating the process would not serve justice.

“She’s still in the hospital on a ventilator, critically ill,” Ferrell said, emphasizing the severity of her condition following the execution attempt. Despite the failed procedure, Governor Lee has not announced whether Pike will be subject to another execution in the future. However, he has suspended all executions in Tennessee for the remainder of 2026.

Pike’s case has drawn renewed attention to the use of the death penalty in Tennessee and the protocols surrounding lethal injections. Supporters of the death penalty maintain that capital punishment is warranted for serious crimes such as Pike’s, but opponents argue that failed executions raise ethical and legal concerns. The state’s pause on executions underscores the ongoing debate over the application and administration of capital punishment.