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.
Gov. Sutton had been scheduled to be executed on Dec. 30. 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)
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. “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.
