In brief
The head of Tennessee’s department of corrections has announced his resignation following the death‑row inmate Christa Pike’s failed execution on Wednesday. Governor Bill Lee announced the change ahead of a state investigation into the incident. Pike survived two lethal injections and is now in critical condition in a state hospital while her lawyers seek a commutation. The move underscores the ongoing debate over the U.S. death‑penalty system and the safety of the lethal‑injection protocol.
Tennessee’s prison chief resigns after failed execution
The head of Tennessee’s department of corrections is stepping down after a botched execution of death‑row inmate Christa Pike on Wednesday. Governor Bill Lee announced the change on Saturday, citing the ongoing investigation into the incident as a reason for the decision.Commissioner Frank Strada said that his resignation is “in the best interests” of the state and that the investigation is “entirely appropriate and necessary.”Pike was sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer. She survived two lethal‑injection attempts and is now in critical condition at a Tennessee hospital while her lawyers seek to commute her sentence.Image source: Tennessee Department of Corrections
