Christa Pike Laughed, Sang, Then Snored Through Botched Execution: Witness

Death row inmate Christa Pike exhibited unusual behavior during a botched execution attempt, laughing, singing, and eventually snoring loudly, according to a witness. William Puckett, a WVLT anchor and senior reporter present in the observation room at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, recounted the disturbing events.

Pike, 50, was administered a lethal injection around 7:27 p.m. While conscious and moving on the gurney, she reportedly emitted a “joyous laugh and chuckle.” Earlier, Puckett noted, she had sung lyrics from a Buddhist meditation. A symbol was placed in view of witnesses at 7:41 p.m. to indicate the drug had been administered, and Pike spoke with her spiritual advisor at 7:44 p.m.

At 7:46 p.m., a curtain dropped over the viewing window, typically signaling the completion of an execution. However, witnesses then heard loud snoring emanating from the death chamber, which Puckett described as sounding like an old man deeply asleep. "It was like she was getting the best sleep of her life," he told the Daily Mail.

Three minutes later, executioners administered a second dose. Four minutes after that, Pike’s body twitched and she gasped for air. A second rock was placed by the window at 8:01 p.m., and the curtain descended again at 8:05 p.m. The snoring, however, continued for another 50 minutes. Witnesses reported hearing commotion from doctors and lawyers entering and exiting the chamber during this period.

The media was escorted out around 8:53 p.m., with Pike still reportedly snoring, indicating she was alive. Her lawyers later stated that Pike was rushed to the hospital where she received life-saving measures and likely suffered a brain injury as a result of the injections.

Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of a classmate.