Remarkable update on US death row inmate who survived two lethal injections

An unprecedented case which shocked experts

In a statement released Tuesday, her attorneys said she continues to receive critical medical care while handcuffed in hospital.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to death for a murder committed more than 30 years ago.

In 1995, she murdered Colleen Slemmer, for which she received a death sentence.

How the execution failed as Pike regained consciousness

Last Wednesday in Tennessee, Pike survived two failed lethal injections, and was then taken to hospital.

She remained unconscious for days there, as medical staff cleared her body of the injected chemical.

As per the experts and her legal team, her apparent recovery is unprecedented, as she is believed to be the only person to survive a lethal injection.

Her prognosis remained unclear, while at a minimum “a long recovery” is expected, her lawyers said.

Criminologist and professor at Fordham Law School, Deborah Denno, said she was “absolutely astonished” that Pike was conscious and speaking.

Speaking to the BBC, she said that in previous cases when other prisoners survived their executions, these happened as executioners were not able to inject anything into the inmates' veins.

She added that Pike is “the only person for whom some kind of toxin has been injected.”

“They did everything they were supposed to do as part of the execution process, and it simply didn't work. This has never happened before”, she added.

What might happen next following the failed execution

Whether there will be another attempt to execute Pike has not been confirmed yet by authorities.

An explanation for what went wrong after injecting her with the chemical pentobarbital has also not been given.

All executions for the rest of the year were suspended by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, while the head of prisons in the state said over the weekend that he planned to resign.

On Wednesday, Pike's lawyers are scheduled to appear in court in Nashville and then hold a news conference.

At the time of murder, Pike was 18 years old, and she and her then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, beat, tortured and killed Slemmer, who was 19.