Christa Pike botched execution: What happens to Gary Sutton, scheduled to be put to death on December 3, as Tennessee scraps all 2026 executions

Tennessee has paused executions for 2026 following Christa Pike's survival of lethal injection. Tennessee has halted its remaining execution for 2026 after Christa Pike survived two doses of the lethal-injection drug pentobarbital, putting Gary Wayne Sutton’s scheduled December 3 execution on hold.Christa Pike’s execution for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer did not reach the end even after Pike was injected with two doses of pentobarbital. (Tennessee Department of Correcti)Gov. Bill Lee announced Wednesday that Tennessee would not carry out Sutton’s execution this year and ordered a “comprehensive, third-party review” of Pike’s execution attempt.Lee said carrying out a death sentence is one of the state’s most serious responsibilities and must be done in a manner that is “legal and constitutional” as well as effective.Deep Dive"Carrying out a lawfully imposed sentence is among the State's most serious responsibilities, and the people of Tennessee expect it to be done in a manner that is not only legal and constitutional, but is effective," Lee said in a statement Sept. 30.Sutton had been scheduled to be executed on Dec. 3 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. His execution date was set by the Tennessee Supreme Court in September 2025.(This story is being updated)Asmi is a Senior Content Producer primarily covering stories related to NRIs, immigration, visas, citizenship and global mobility. She closely follows developments that affect Indians living, working and studying abroad, with a particular focus on translating complex policies and international developments into clear, accessible stories for readers. As part of the US Desk, Asmi also reports on a wide range of political, economic and social developments in the United States, exploring their relevance to Indian and global audiences. Her work spans breaking news, features, trends and explanatory stories, with an emphasis on accuracy, timely reporting and audience-focused storytelling. Asmi likes finding the human angle behind major developments and bringing context to stories that can often feel complicated or distant. She is especially interested in stories around immigration, life abroad, careers, education and the experiences of the Indian diaspora, while also exploring a wide range of topics that spark curiosity and conversation. Outside the newsroom, Asmi is an avid reader and loves travelling, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and collecting stories along the way.Read More