Emergency Calls Released Following Christa Pike's Failed Execution

A series of emergency calls made after the failed execution of Christa Pike, a death row inmate in the U.S., have been released, revealing delays caused by confusion among first responders and Tennessee prison officials. The recordings, obtained by the Associated Press, indicate that several minutes elapsed as officials sought to confirm the legitimacy of the emergency request from the execution chamber at Riverbend Prison. The Nashville Department of Emergency Communications released calls between their agency and other departments, including police and highway patrol. One dispatcher is heard saying, "We are trying to find out if that is an actual thing that is happening and we need to send an ambulance and, or if you need police assistance or if this is someone that is just basically prank calling or, like, swatting us." Another call features Kelly Gleason, Pike's defense attorney, urgently requesting help, stating, "She is still alive and breathing and needs immediate life-saving care." Christa Pike, 50, was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. On September 30, Pike underwent two injections of the drug pentobarbital but did not die and was subsequently taken to a hospital in critical condition.