Christa Pike’s lawyers hold press conference after she regains consciousness in hospital – latest updates

Tennessee’s top prison official is resigning following Christa Pike’s botched execution attempt.

Over the weekend, governor Bill Lee announced that Frank Strada, the department of correction commissioner, will leave his position in late October amid an independent investigation into Pike’s failed execution attempt.

Despite calling the case “deeply disturbing,” Lee told reporters last week: “So far as we know, the department of correction followed exactly the protocol that was outlined.” Meanwhile, Strada said that his resignation would “be in the best interests” of the state as the investigation goes underway.

Death penalty lawyers said that Strada oversaw five “botched” executions, with common threads including prolonged suffering among prisoners and questionable injection procedures.