Christa Pike, the death row inmate who survived a botched lethal injection attempt, has filed an emergency federal court motion to prevent prison officials from transferring her back to her former housing unit, citing concerns for her safety. Pike is currently in solitary confinement in the infirmary at the Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center in Nashville.
Pike's motion argues that her current physical weakness makes her vulnerable and unable to defend herself if returned to her previous unit. This pod, according to the filing, houses inmates with significant histories of assaults and disciplinary problems. Pike stated that during her previous time in the unit, she witnessed multiple assaults on inmates and guards, instances of psychological breakdowns, and general danger.
"In my current physical condition, I could not defend myself or get away if another inmate attacked me," Pike wrote in the filing. "I am afraid that I will be seriously hurt if I am moved to that pod while I am this weak."
Additionally, the motion claims that returning to her prior housing unit poses a high risk of infection and further injury due to unsanitary conditions. Pike's attorneys noted that she would be forced to clean and use a shower described as "roach-infested" on her own while still recovering.
Pike, 50, was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. She was convicted of attempted murder of another inmate in 2001.
Pike was scheduled to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in over two centuries. Her execution on September 30 was halted after two doses of the lethal injection drug pentobarbital failed to kill her. Following the incident, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued a temporary halt on all executions pending an investigation.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Tennessee Department of Correction for comment.