Christa Pike speaks out after execution attempt: 'I'm deeply hurt'

Molly Davis
Nashville Tennessean
Oct 31, 2026
15 hrs ago

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Christa Pike during trial in 2007 in Knox County Criminal Court.
J. Miles Cary, USA TODAY Network

kAmr9C:DE2 !:<6 D2:5 D96 :D :? 4@?DE2?E A9JD:42= 2?5 >6?E2= A2:? :? 2 DE2E6>6?E C6=62D65 @?6 >@?E9 27E6C D96 DFCG:G65 2? 6I64FE:@? 2EE6>AE 3J E96 DE2E6 @7 %6??6DD66 @? $6AE] b_]k^Am

kAmQx 925 ?@E 4@?E6>A=2E65 =:76 36J@?5 E92E ?:89E[ 2?5 x’> 566A=J 9FCE 3J E96 :?4@>A6E6?46 E92E 92D AFE D@ >2?J A6@A=6 :? E9:D E6CC:3=6 A@D:E:@?[Q D96 D2:5 :? E96 ce_\H@C5 DE2E6>6?E] Qx 4@?E:?F6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE >J G:4E:>’D 72>:=J 2?5 E96 E6CC:3=6 A2:? 2?5 =@DD E96J 92G6 6?5FC65]Qk^Am

kAm!:<6 H2D D6?E6?465 E@ 562E9 7@C E96 `hhd >FC56C @7 `h\J62C\@=5 r@==66? $=6>>6C :? z?@IG:==6] !:<6 H2D `g 2E E96 E:>6] $96 DFCG:G65 EH@ C@F?5D @7 =6E92= :?;64E:@? 5CF8D $6AE] b_ 2?5 H2D E2<6? E@ E96 9@DA:E2= 27E6C h A]>] E92E ?:89E]k^Am

People are also reading…

Bob Uecker's former wife finds comfort in radio booth during Brewers' World Series run
Lake Geneva City Council adopts ordinance for appointed city attorney
Brewers legend Robin Yount reacts to World Series title
Work has begun on electrical substation, penthouse in downtown Lake Geneva
Geneva Inn welcomes new general manager
Tommy Thompson asks Regents to delay hiring a new UW system president
Our endorsement for Wisconsin governor
Why the Packers’ run game remains stuck despite Josh Jacobs’ return
Juice boxes, Fanta and the World Series: Brewers' Cooper Pratt does things his way
Two doctors join Mercyhealth system in Walworth County
VISIT Lake Geneva presents Impact Awards during annual event
Halloween fun in Lake Geneva: Tricks, treats, trains, a bus, a ball & a bash
Cove of Lake Geneva hosting Capes & Crowns Family Ball
Is artist Noah Kahan playing a concert at Camp Randall? What we know
High school football second-round playoff scores

kAmv@G] q:== {66 A2FD65 2== 6I64FE:@?D 2?5 @C56C65 2 E9:C5\A2CEJ C6G:6H :?E@ H92E H6?E HC@?8] {66 2=D@ 2??@F?465 E96 C6D:8?2E:@? @7 %6??6DD66 s6A2CE>6?E @7 r@CC64E:@? r@>>:DD:@?6C uC2?< $EC252] !:<6VD 6I64FE:@? 2EE6>AE H2D E96 D64@?5 F?DF446DD7F= @?6 E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAm$:?46 ~4E] `_[ !:<6 92D 366? 324< 2E E96 s63C2 z] y@9?D@? #6923:=:E2E:@? r6?E6C :? }2D9G:==6[ H96C6 D96 92D 366? 7@C >@C6 E92? b_ J62CD] $96 4@?E:?F6D E@ C646:G6 >65:42= 42C6 :? E96 AC:D@?VD :?7:C>2CJ]k^Am

kAmQx 2> C64@G6C:?8[ 2?5 x <?@H E92E x 2> 86EE:?8 DEC@?86C[Q 96C DE2E6>6?E C625] QqFE 962=:?8 :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D 36:?8 @<2J]”k^Am

kAmQ$:?46 E92E ?:89E[ x 92G6 366? =2C86=J :D@=2E65 :? E96 AC:D@?’D >65:42= H2C5[ 2H2J 7C@> @E96C A6@A=6 2?5 E96 9F>2? 4@??64E:@?D E92E >62? D@ >F49 E@ >6[” D96 D2:5] “%92E :D@=2E:@? 3C:?8D :ED @H? <:?5 @7 A2:?]Qk^Am

kAm(9:=6 2== 6I64FE:@?D 2C6 A2FD65 :? %6??6DD66 7@C ?@H[ :E :D F?4=62C H96E96C !:<6 H:== 6G6?EF2==J 7246 6I64FE:@? 282:?] {66 92D >256 ?@ :?5:42E:@? E92E 96 A=2?D E@ :?E6CG6?6 :? !:<6VD 42D6]k^Am

kAmQpD :E C6=2E6D E@ 2 A2CE:4F=2C :?5:G:5F2= =:<6 r9C:DE2 !:<6 2?5 96C 4C:>6[ D96 :D DE:== :?42C46C2E65 F?56C E96 =2HD @7 E96 DE2E6 @7 %6??6DD66[ 2?5 x DFDA64E 96C D6?E6?46 H:== 36 E96 D2>6 2D :E H2D 367@C6[ F?=6DD 56E6C>:?65 @E96CH:D6 3J E96 4@FCED[Q {66 E@=5 C6A@CE6CD (65?6D52J]k^Am

TENNESSEE-EXECUTION/ — Death row inmate Christa Pike enters a Knox County Criminal Court on Dec. 4, 2007, in Knoxville, Tenn.
J. Miles Cary, Knoxville News Sentinel

k9am(92E H6?E HC@?8nk^9am

kAmpE 23@FE fic_ A]>] @? E96 52J D96 H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 6I64FE65[ !:<6 H2D 25>:?:DE6C65 @?6 5625=J 5@D6 @7 A6?E@32C3:E2=[ E96 5CF8 FD65 :? %6??6DD66VD =6E92= :?;64E:@? AC@46DD] p?@E96C 5@D6 H2D 8:G6? 2E 23@FE g A]>][ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 E:>6=:?6 @7 6G6?ED 8:G6? 3J >65:2 H:E?6DD6D H9@ H6C6 AC6D6?E]k^Am

kAmqFE 27E6C 2? 9@FC @7 H2:E:?8 7@C !:<6 E@ 5:6[ E96 6I64FE:@? 2EE6>AE H2D DE@AA65 2?5 6>6C86?4J D6CG:46D H6C6 42==65 2E gic_ A]>] x? @E96C %6??6DD66 6I64FE:@?D 3J =6E92= :?;64E:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 @?=J DF446DD7F= 2EE6>AE E9:D J62C[ 4@?56>?65 :?>2E6D 92G6 5:65 H:E9:? >:?FE6D @7 C646:G:?8 ;FDE @?6 C@F?5 @7 =6E92= 5CF8D]k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE h`` 42==[ >256 3J D@>6@?6 :?D:56 E96 AC:D@? H9@D6 :56?E:EJ 92D 366? H:E996=5 7C@> AF3=:4 C64@C5D[ EC:886C65 2 ae\>:?FE6 D4C2>3=6 E92E 56=2J65 >65:4D 7C@> 8@:?8 :?D:56 E96 AC:D@?] %96 42==6C 5:5 ?@E 7@==@H AC@E@4@= 7@C 42==:?8 7@C 96=A 7C@> :?D:56 2 >2I:>F> D64FC:EJ AC:D@? 3642FD6 E96 42==6C 5:5 ?@E AC@G:56 E@ E96 5:DA2E496C E96 4@56 C6BF:C65 E@ G6C:7J E96 42== :D ?@E 2 AC2?< @C DH2EE:?8 2EE6>AE]k^Am

kAm!:<6 H2D 5C:G6? 3J 2>3F=2?46 E@ 2 }2D9G:==6\2C62 9@DA:E2=[ H96C6 D96 H2D :?EF32E65 2?5 @? 2 G6?E:=2E@C 7@C 52JD] ~? ~4E] e[ 2EE@C?6JD 7@C !:<6 D2:5 D96 H2D 2H2<6 2?5 DA62<:?8 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 E96 6I64FE:@? 2EE6>AE] $96 H2D DE2?5:?8 FA 2?5 H2=<:?8 282:? @? ~4E] g 2?5 H2D 5:D492C865 7C@> E96 9@DA:E2= @? ~4E] `_]k^Am

kAmpEE@C?6JD 7@C !:<6[ @?6 @7 H9@> H2D H:E9 96C E9C@F89@FE E96 6I64FE:@? 52J[ D2:5 :E E@@< >@C6 E92? 2? 9@FC 7@C E96 x' E62> E@ D6E E96 =:?6D[ 2?5 E96J FD65 2E =62DE D6G6? ?665=6D] p7E6CH2C5D[ 2EE@C?6JD D2:5 !:<6VD 2C>D H6C6 325=J DH@==6?[ 3CF:D65 2?5 3=:DE6C65[ A@DD:3=J 7C@> E96 6I64FE:@? 5CF8 =62<:?8 :?E@ 96C 2C> E:DDF6 :?DE625 @7 4:C4F=2E:?8 E9C@F89 96C 3=@@5DEC62>]k^Am

k9amuF== DE2E6>6?Ek^9am

kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 :D r9C:DE2 !:<6VD 7F== DE2E6>6?E[ C6=62D65 @?6 >@?E9 27E6C 96C 2EE6>AE65 6I64FE:@?]k^Am

FILE PHOTO: Christa Pike is shown in a 2023 booking photograph — Death row inmate Christa Pike is shown in this 2023 Tennessee Department of Correction booking photograph.
POLICE HANDOUT

kAm~?6 >@?E9 28@ @? $6AE6>36C b_[ x H2=<65 :?E@ E96 6I64FE:@? 492>36C 2E #:G6C36?5 >6?’D AC:D@? AC6A2C65 E@ 5:6] x 925 >256 >J A6246] x 925 E@=5 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ =@G65 >6[ DFAA@CE65 >6 2?5 DE@@5 3J >6 E9C@F89 E96 J62CD x H2D 8C2E67F= 7@C E96>] x 925 2=D@ E@=5 E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 C@@> 2?5 H9@ H6C6 E96C6 E@ H:E?6DD >J 6I64FE:@? E92E x H2D =62G:?8 E96> :? =@G:?8 <:?5?6DD]k^Am

kAm$6G6C2= 52JD =2E6C x H@<6 FA 2=@?6 :? 2 9@DA:E2= 4@?7FD65 2?5 :? A2:?] %96C6 92D?VE 366? 2 >@>6?E D:?46 E92E ?:89E H96? x 92G6?VE 366? :? A2:?] |J 3@5J 9FCED] |J 2C>D 9FCE] |J 92?5D 9FCE] |J E9C@2E 9FCED] x DE:== DECF88=6 E@ DA62<] p?5 E96 A2:? :D?VE ;FDE A9JD:42=] %96C6 :D A2:? :? >J >:?5 2?5 :? >J D@F=]k^Am

kAmx 925 ?@E 4@?E6>A=2E65 =:76 36J@?5 E92E ?:89E[ 2?5 x’> 566A=J 9FCE 3J E96 :?4@>A6E6?46 E92E 92D AFE D@ >2?J A6@A=6 :? E9:D E6CC:3=6 A@D:E:@?] x 4@?E:?F6 E@ E9:?< 23@FE >J G:4E:>’D 72>:=J 2?5 E96 E6CC:3=6 A2:? 2?5 =@DD E96J 92G6 6?5FC65]k^Am

kAmx 2> C64@G6C:?8[ 2?5 x <?@H E92E x 2> 86EE:?8 DEC@?86C] qFE 962=:?8 :D ?@E E96 D2>6 2D 36:?8 @<2J]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E92E ?:89E[ x 92G6 366? =2C86=J :D@=2E65 :? E96 AC:D@?’D >65:42= H2C5[ 2H2J 7C@> @E96C A6@A=6 2?5 E96 9F>2? 4@??64E:@?D E92E >62? D@ >F49 E@ >6] %92E :D@=2E:@? 3C:?8D :ED @H? <:?5 @7 A2:?] x DA6?E ag J62CD :? D@=:E2CJ 4@?7:?6>6?E 2?5 >F49 @7 H92E x 2> 6IA6C:6?4:?8 E@52J :D 2 C6A62E @7 E92E 4@?5:E:@?]k^Am

kAmx 2> D62C49:?8 7@C >62?:?8 :? H92E 92AA6?65 E@ >6] ~?6 E9:?8 E92E 92D 8:G6? >6 DEC6?8E9 :D E96 6IEC2@C5:?2CJ =@G6 2?5 DFAA@CE x 92G6 C646:G65 7C@> A6@A=6 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] x 2> @G6CH96=>65 3J E96 <:?5?6DD 2?5 AC2J6CD @7 A6@A=6 x 92G6 <?@H? 7@C J62CD 2?5 4@>A=6E6 DEC2?86CD H9@ 92G6 ?6G6C >6E >6] %@ <?@H E92E D@ >2?J A6@A=6 42C6 23@FE >6[ E92E E96J D66 >6 2D 2 9F>2? 36:?8 H9@D6 =:76 >2EE6CD[ :D D@>6E9:?8 x 42??@E 7F==J AFE :?E@ H@C5D] xE :D 9F>3=:?8[ 2?5 :E 92D E@F4965 >6 >@C6 566A=J E92? x 42? 6IA=2:?]k^Am

kAmx 2=D@ H2?E E@ E92?< E96 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD[ 5@4E@CD[ ?FCD6D 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 2E E96 9@DA:E2= H9@ 42C65 7@C >6] %96J EC62E65 >6 H:E9 4@>A2DD:@?[ 5:8?:EJ 2?5 C6DA64E] x H:== ?6G6C 7@C86E E96:C <:?5?6DD] x 2=D@ H2?E E@ E92?< >J 2EE@C?6JD 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ 92D 7@F89E 7@C >6[ DE@@5 36D:56 >6 2?5 C67FD65 E@ 8:G6 FA @? >6]k^Am

kAmx 5@?VE <?@H H9J x DFCG:G65 E92E ?:89E] x 5@?VE <?@H H92E 4@>6D ?6IE] $@>6 52JD[ 7:?5:?8 9@A6 :D 92C56C E92? @E96CD] u@C ?@H[ x 2> ECJ:?8 E@ 962=[ @?6 52J 2E 2 E:>6] p?5 x 2> 9@=5:?8 @? E@ E96 =@G6 2?5 <:?5?6DD @7 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 C6>:?565 >6 E92E x 2> ?@E 2=@?6]k^Am