Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Doctor who oversaw Christa Pike's failed lethal injection botched another execution just months ago, as local senator calls for electric chair to be used instead
UK Daily Mail ^ | 10/01/2026 | Rachel Bowman

Posted on 10/01/2026 9:35:50 AM PDT by DFG

The doctor who oversaw Christa Pike's failed lethal injection also supervised another Tennessee death row inmate's botched execution in May.

Pike, 50, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of her classmate Colleen Slemmer, was administered two syringes of pentobarbital at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville late Wednesday.

But she was still alive and loudly snoring after the attempted lethal injection and was rushed to a hospital by ambulance, her attorneys said.

She remains hospitalized, but her legal team claims they have not been informed about her condition and no updates have been given.

Her lawyers told the Daily Mail they expect to get more information later today.

Pike's case marks the second botched execution in Tennessee this year, both of which were overseen by the same physician, Dr Mark Fowler, reported WSMV.

In May, Fowler oversaw the failed execution of Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing three people in 1994, after medical personnel spent more than an hour unsuccessfully establishing the IV access required for lethal injection.

Carruthers' sister filed a complaint against Fowler with the Tennessee Department of Health, claiming he suffered excruciating pain and partial paralysis from a stroke as a result of the botched execution.

Maria DeLiberato, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Carruthers, witnessed the attempts and said the team tried to insert an IV in Carruthers' arm, hand and foot before Fowler attempted to insert a central line.

The complaint accuses Fowler of violating medical ethics by participating in an execution; by injecting Carruthers with the anesthetic lidocaine without first establishing that he was not allergic to it; and by continuing the search for a vein despite his 'visible agony and distress.'

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...


TOPICS: US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: 1995; 202609; aclu; christapike; colleenslemmer; mariadeliberato; markfowler; tennessee; tonycarruthers; unlethalinjection
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-38 next last

"In May, the execution of Tennessee death row inmate Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing three people in 1994, was halted after medical personnel spent more than an hour unsuccessfully establishing the IV access required for lethal injection"

1 posted on 10/01/2026 9:35:50 AM PDT by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DFG

Just send the criminal awating execution to PLANNED PARENTHOOD. They can rip her apart easily. They do it all day. every day.

Or send her to Canada. They euthanize and never make a mistake. They just euthanized a Christian grandmother against her will.


2 posted on 10/01/2026 9:41:12 AM PDT by Singermom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I am not the first to say this, but why are they not using fentynyl. In sufficent dosage it should be quite effective to get the job done.


3 posted on 10/01/2026 9:41:57 AM PDT by Cautious Optimism
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Singermom

Exactly, babies survive abortion everyday and they are killed and NO ONE makes a fuss. I dont care how they kill this woman, just do it, blow her head off, electrocute her ass, whatever it takes, she deserves to die


4 posted on 10/01/2026 9:42:18 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Hang both Pike and the “doctor”.


5 posted on 10/01/2026 9:43:12 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

The doctor probably felt bad about killing a woman so decided to half ass it


6 posted on 10/01/2026 9:48:02 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Cautious Optimism

Or nitrogen.


7 posted on 10/01/2026 9:49:56 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DFG

What’s so bad about the firing squad? Or even hanging? The last public hanging was in 1936, a public square hanging.

AI:
“ Key Details
• The Condemned: Rainey Bethea was a 22-year-old African American man. He was convicted of the rape of a 70-year-old local woman, Lishia Edwards.
• The Spectacle: An estimated crowd of 20,000 spectators gathered on the banks of the Ohio River to watch the execution, turning the event into a chaotic carnival-like atmosphere.

When I worked in the Kingdom, head square Taif, was packed every Friday afternoon after noon prayer time. Note: their weekends are Thursday and Fridays. I lived in town with the locals, and there was absolutely no crime to be had…..except for the Pakis and Sirlankans that were employed to do the menial labor. The most common punishment was three or four hand chopping per every beheading.


8 posted on 10/01/2026 9:53:12 AM PDT by delta7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative

“The executioner’s face is always well hidden”

-Bob Dylan in A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall

This guy is known? Firing squads use only 1 bullet. The rest are blanks so one can go to their grave with a more clear conscience.


9 posted on 10/01/2026 9:53:15 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Broken necks are quick and sure.

They also serve as a public object lession.

See tag line.


10 posted on 10/01/2026 9:54:05 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

You can tell the difference between firing a blank and a real bullet.


11 posted on 10/01/2026 10:00:13 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DFG

I’m with Sen. Blackburn on this.Bring back the electric chair and speed up this process.


12 posted on 10/01/2026 10:17:25 AM PDT by willk (Local news media. Just as big an enemy to this country as national media)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Singermom

I HAVE HAD HORSES FOR OVER 46 YEARS.

EVEN I COULD GIVE AN IV INJECTION.


13 posted on 10/01/2026 10:18:23 AM PDT by ridesthemiles (not giving up on TRUMP---EVER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DIRTYSECRET

I thought it was one member of the firing squad has a blank loaded.


14 posted on 10/01/2026 10:22:33 AM PDT by 4yearlurker (Don't worry,pray.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: DFG

This was sabotage bank it.


15 posted on 10/01/2026 10:25:08 AM PDT by gibsonguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cautious Optimism

As vicious as her crime was and the stats sentence you can’t execute someone twice- 4th amendment rights


16 posted on 10/01/2026 10:28:20 AM PDT by thesligoduffyflynns (🎄🎆🎄🎆🎄🎆 JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON🎄🎆🎄🎆🎄🎆 MERRY CHRISTMAS!🎄🎄🎄)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

"...calls for electric chair to be used instead..."


17 posted on 10/01/2026 10:31:06 AM PDT by Who is John Galt? ("...mit Pulver und Blei, Die Gedanken sind frei!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DFG

30.06


18 posted on 10/01/2026 10:31:29 AM PDT by bigbob (We are all Charlie Kirk now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: willk

EXACTLY, much easier, just cover her head and pump up the juice, easy peasy. This reminds me of the Law and order episode titled “Executioner”


19 posted on 10/01/2026 10:35:13 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: DFG

Dr. Mark Folwer needs to be replaced and investigated. Either he is botching these executions on purpose on lacks basic competence. Has he ever performed a successful execution?


20 posted on 10/01/2026 10:42:38 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson