That question is whether Tennessee will attempt a second execution, and whether justice for her daughter will ever truly be settled. May Martinez has waited three decades for resolution. Instead, she now waits again, this time for doctors and the state to decide what happens next.
A Mother’s Vigil in Nashville
Martinez traveled from Florida to Nashville for the September 30 execution of Christa Pike, who was convicted in 1996 of murdering her 19-year-old daughter, Colleen Slemmer.
The execution did not proceed as planned.
Pike’s Survival and Hospitalization
Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital during the attempted execution. She was transferred to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she remained unconscious on a ventilator for several days.
On October 6, Pike’s attorneys announced that she had regained consciousness and was able to speak. They cautioned that her prognosis remains uncertain and that recovery could be lengthy. The legal team also alleged that Pike suffered severe injuries to her arms. She has remained restrained in her hospital bed throughout her critical care.
Uncertainty Over What Comes Next
Martinez said she doubts Tennessee will attempt another execution, though nothing has been confirmed. Asked whether she wanted to see a second lethal injection carried out, she responded plainly.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Martinez said. “They’re going to do what they’re going to do.”
Her words leave the matter unresolved, with no indication yet of what Tennessee officials intend to do next. For Martinez, the daughter she lost three decades ago still cannot come home.