The spiritual advisor present during the botched execution of Christa Pike, a death row inmate known for a Satanic-themed murder, has been identified as Reverend Mikey Noechel, a Buddhist meditation instructor. Noechel, co-director of the Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and his organization have publicly opposed Pike's execution, citing Buddhist teachings against killing and the concept of karmic consequences.
Pike, who was convicted of the 1995 torture-killing of a classmate, was undergoing a lethal injection at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution when the procedure failed. Witnesses reported that Noechel was by Pike's side, speaking to her and singing a song containing the words "I love you" as authorities struggled to administer the lethal injection. Pike reportedly asked for the procedure to be called off after experiencing pain and the process was ultimately halted after multiple unsuccessful attempts.
Wild Heart Meditation Center, which claims Pike as a member of its sangha, had organized a vigil and a petition opposing her execution. The organization stated on its events calendar that it was committed to supporting both Pike and Noechel. The center's website notes that Noechel, whose Buddhist name is Rogahari Sokatura meaning "healer of the broken-hearted," is dedicated to bringing Buddhist teachings into settings such as addiction treatment centers and jails.
Noechel has been advising Pike for over two years, teaching her Metta meditation, a practice focused on wishing well for oneself and others. He expressed concern about the karmic outcomes of executing individuals, stating that such an act reflects a mind state of hatred or ignorance.
Pike's conversion to Buddhism and her reliance on the religion for a legal defense in a lawsuit against the state's execution protocols brought Noechel into the execution chamber. Her legal team argued that being forced to participate in planning her own execution violated her First Amendment right to practice Buddhism, as the religion prohibits intentionally causing death. A court hearing on August 11 affirmed her right to have a Buddhist advisor present.
However, Pike's actions have drawn scrutiny. Despite her religious defense, she reportedly requested to be executed by a firing squad shortly after the court sided with her regarding her Buddhist advisor. The mother of Pike's victim, Colleen Slemmer, expressed skepticism about any change in Pike's character.
Pike was slated to be the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years. The failed procedure has prompted Governor Bill Lee to pause all executions in the state for the remainder of the year pending a review. During the attempted execution, Pike recited phrases from the Buddhist meditation Noechel taught her, including "Be kind and gentle to yourself and may you be at peace." The execution was eventually halted, and Pike is currently in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Hospital, with her attorney suggesting she may have suffered brain damage.