Christa Pike still alive, tried to help executioners find a good vein before botched lethal injection attempt: lawyer

Christa Pike is still alive but in critical condition after two bungled lethal injection attempts, her lawyers said Thursday afternoon.

Pike was strapped to the table for more than an hour as medical staff jabbed her with at least seven needles, one of which was bent when it came out of her body, her attorney Randy Spivey told a press conference after botched execution in Tennessee Wednesday night.

“Pike was not just cooperative, but was trying to help instruct the people placing the IV lines,” Stephen Ferrell of the Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee said.

“She over and over again said ‘Please try up on my shoulder higher. Please try here, I think it will be okay.’

Here’s the latest on the botched execution of Tennessee murderer Christa Pike:

• Christa Pike likely got her wish for an all-female execution staff before botched lethal injection: attorney
• Christa Pike still alive, tried to help executioners find a good vein before botched lethal injection attempt: lawyer
• Christa Pike is first death row inmate ever to survive lethal injection, expert says 
• Christa Pike likely has ‘brain injury’ after botched execution — here’s what went wrong

Ferrell said Pike’s history of sexual abuse likely made the ordeal even more horrific.

“That was her biggest fear as the survivor of sexual abuse, that she would be pinned down, prodded, poked, cut,” he said.