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 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. (X/ @_LaJanee_)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.

Sutton had been scheduled to be executed on December 3 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. His execution date was set by the Tennessee Supreme Court in September 2025.

Sutton will remain on Tennessee’s death row and will not be executed on December 3 under the schedule announced before Lee’s decision.

The governor’s decision follows a chaotic execution attempt involving Pike, Tennessee’s only woman on death row. Pike received two doses of pentobarbital on September 30 but remained alive, according to her attorneys. She was later taken to an off-site medical facility.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said it followed the state’s established execution protocol during the attempt. The department has said its lethal-injection protocol does not allow additional procedures beyond those carried out during the execution.

Sutton was sentenced to death in connection with the 1992 killing of Tommy Griffin in Blount County, Tennessee. He was also convicted in connection with the killing of Griffin’s sister, Connie Branam, in Sevier County.

Sutton’s uncle and co-defendant, James Dellinger, was also sentenced to death. Dellinger died of natural causes on Tennessee’s death row in 2023, according to the case history cited in court records and reporting.

Sutton’s execution date had previously been affected by Tennessee’s broader pause in executions and review of its lethal-injection procedures. The Tennessee Supreme Court later reset his execution for December 3, 2026.

The immediate next step is the third-party review ordered by Lee following Pike’s failed execution.

The review could examine what happened during the execution attempt and whether changes are needed to Tennessee’s execution procedures. The state has already faced scrutiny over its lethal-injection process following the Carruthers execution attempt earlier this year. The Death Penalty Information Center reported that Tennessee lawmakers had previously called for an independent review of the failed Carruthers execution.

For Sutton, the December 3 execution date will no longer proceed as scheduled. The state has not announced a new execution date for him.

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