A death row inmate who survived two doses of a lethal injection cocktail is thanking first responders and medical professionals who saved her life after leaving the hospital.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Christa Pike, a Tennessee death row inmate who was still alive following a botched execution on Sept. 30, has been deemed well enough to leave the hospital, according to TMZ. The outlet reports that the 50-year-old, who was sentenced to death in 1995 for her part in the killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, was released from the hospital and sent back to Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (formerly the Tennessee Prison for Women), where she had spent the past few decades.
The outlet added that the death row inmate will continue receiving medical care from behind bars. In a statement provided by her legal team, Pike said she was grateful to the first responders and medical professionals who managed to save her life following the intended execution. Her attorneys added that her health is continuing to be monitored.
Pike's recovery following the execution attempt has been nothing short of miraculous. She was comatose following the failed procedure for several days. However, she eventually woke up and reportedly was able to speak.
"Her recovery is medically unprecedented. Her prognosis remains unclear but, at a minimum, we expect a long recovery," Pike's legal team said earlier this week. "We are incredibly grateful to the first responders and the medical team at the hospital who treated Christa like a human and have provided exceptional care for her. We also want to thank thousands from all over the world who sent messages offering prayers and support for Christa."
Christa Pike's Legal Team Worries About Her "Full Emotional and Psychological Toll" Following Failed Execution
It's unclear when or if Pike's death sentence will ever be carried out. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee suspended executions in the state shortly following the botched procedure. "Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State's most serious responsibilities. The people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal. And constitutional, but is effective," Lee explained at the time.
Pike was to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years.
Meanwhile, Pike's legal team raised concerns about the lasting effects the incident would have on their client.
"Christa is dealing with the profound psychological trauma of having survived a failed execution, including the terror, pain, and uncertainty of believing she was about to die," the legal group told PEOPLE. "We cannot yet know the full emotional and psychological toll of that experience or how long it will take her to begin to heal."
