NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has ordered a third-party review and temporarily halted all scheduled executions after Christa Pike, the state's only female death row inmate, appeared to still be alive following an attempted lethal injection Wednesday night. Witnesses reported that Pike, whose execution was the first for a woman in the state in two centuries, seemed to be breathing and snoring loudly even after authorities administered lethal drugs.

The governor stated that the Department of Correction followed protocol but acknowledged the outcome was unexpected. "There is no one that wanted what happened last night to happen. It shouldn't have happened," Lee said Thursday, emphasizing the need for answers regarding the discrepancy from previous executions. He confirmed that all remaining executions scheduled for this year would not proceed.

Reporters who witnessed the proceedings at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution described a highly unusual event, with one journalist noting, "Nothing about today was normal, typical -- at all." Multiple witnesses stated they could hear Pike breathing and snoring loudly even after the execution chamber curtains were closed. An ambulance was observed leaving the facility with flashing lights shortly after witnesses were escorted out.

Attorneys for Pike, representing the Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender, confirmed she was receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. They expressed frustration, stating, "Tonight the State of Tennessee once again failed to carry out a lawful execution." Their statement raised concerns about the availability and quality of execution drugs, difficulty with vein access, and the lack of emergency medical care during the process, all conducted under a "veiled in secrecy" protocol.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections has not officially confirmed Pike's current condition. The attempted execution followed a series of last-minute legal challenges. Earlier on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, had cleared the way for Pike's execution to proceed, granting the state's request to override lower court injunctions.

Pike was convicted in the 1980s for the murder of Colleen Slemmer, a fellow inmate at a Tennessee prison. The case gained notoriety due to the brutal nature of the crime and Pike's youth at the time of the murder.

This incident raises significant questions about the state's lethal injection protocols and the reliability of the drugs used. The governor's call for a thorough investigation aims to address these concerns and ensure transparency and accuracy in future executions, should they resume.

The temporary halt affects several other inmates scheduled for execution later this year, creating uncertainty and prompting renewed debate about capital punishment in Tennessee and across the nation.