Christa Pike's failed execution and Tennessee's halt to executions
Active · last development Oct 1: “Pentobarbital, the drug used in Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Gail Pike, has come under past scrutiny”
What this arc covers
Tennessee's attempt in September 2026 to execute Christa Gail Pike, which she survived: the last-minute appeals, the failed lethal injection with pentobarbital, the governor's halt to the state's remaining executions, and the victim's family.
Earliest story we hold Aug 12, 2026 · 6 stories · 91 independent sources (counted once each) · 50 days
Part of The death penalty
- South Carolina's return to executions by firing squadJan 31 – Nov 14, 2025
- Florida's record pace of executions under Ron DeSantisFeb 13, 2025 – Sep 29, 2026
- Christa Pike's failed execution and Tennessee's halt to executionsThis arcAug 12 – Oct 1, 2026
Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning
Oct 1Pentobarbital, the drug used in Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Gail Pike, has come under past scrutiny9 articles · 2 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right
Sep 29Before TN executes Christa Pike, Colleen Slemmer’s mother remembers her daughter2 articles · 1 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right
Sep 26– Oct 1Christa Pike is in critical condition after Tennessee’s failed execution attempt, her lawyers say442 articles · 94 independent sources19 left, 53 center, 18 right
Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side
Aug 10Aug 17Aug 31Sep 7Sep 21Sep 28
LeftCenterRight
Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.
Every week as a table
| Week of | Left | Center | Right | Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Sep 28, 2026 | 19 | 53 | 18 | 443 |
22% left · 58% center · 20% right of 91 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 6 stories.
Every storyoldest first
August 2026
Aug 12Could Christa Pike be executed by hanging? What Tennessee law allows1 articles · 1 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right- Aug 13Christa Pike: What to know about Tennessee's next scheduled execution1 articles · 1 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right
September 2026
Sep 26A Tennessee death row case is drawing attention for a last-minute request5 articles · 5 independent sources1 left, 0 center, 0 right- Sep 26– Oct 1Christa Pike is in critical condition after Tennessee’s failed execution attempt, her lawyers say442 articles · 94 independent sources19 left, 53 center, 18 right
- Sep 29Before TN executes Christa Pike, Colleen Slemmer’s mother remembers her daughter2 articles · 1 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right
October 2026
Oct 1Pentobarbital, the drug used in Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Gail Pike, has come under past scrutiny9 articles · 2 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right