Christa Pike is still alive after Tennessee's failed lethal injection on September 30, 2026. Brian Scott and Jill Egan break down what went wrong inside the death chamber and America's long history of botched executions.
Tennessee attempted to execute Christa Pike for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer. Officials spent more than an hour trying to establish IV access, then administered two doses of pentobarbital. She was transported to a hospital where she remained unconscious for days.
Her attorneys say she has now been discharged and returned to prison, with ongoing trauma and issues with concentration and memory. Governor Bill Lee has paused executions pending an independent review. Can Tennessee try again?
In this Daily Scaries True Crime Podcast episode, we cover the Christa Pike execution timeline hour by hour, why Tennessee uses single-drug pentobarbital instead of the three-drug cocktail, why that older protocol collapsed, and what happens legally after a failed execution - competency, double jeopardy, and cruel and unusual punishment.
We also cover historic failed executions including Willie Francis, Clayton Lockett, Romell Broom, Kenneth Smith, and the halted IV attempt for Tony Carruthers earlier this year.
New episodes of the Daily Scaries True Crime Podcast every Tuesday. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Tell us in the comments: did you know anyone had survived an execution attempt before this case?

What the grand jury saw in the case of Nolan Wells that led to no trial — and what the family's investigators uncovered.

On July 4th on Horn Island, 18-year-old Nolan Wells went missing after a group boat trip. Two days later he was found on the island. A grand jury reviewed 132 subpoenas and 43 witnesses and found his death consistent with drowning, with no charges filed.

Brian Scott and Jill Egan walk through both tracks side by side: what the state's findings concluded about the Nolan Wells autopsy and the Nolan Wells grand jury decision, and what independent investigators documented about the timeline, head injuries, phone data and Snapchat messages.

The Daily Scaries True Crime Podcast breaks down classic and new true crime cases and presenting theories with timelines and evidence comparisons.

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Daily Scaries: Crime After Crime!

This week, we are unpacking a wild lineup of true crime stories and bizarre events that you simply won't believe actually happened.

We dive deep into the dark and disturbing allegations surrounding The Cornell 7, and break down a completely bizarre high-speed police chase where the suspect decided to make it rain cash. Plus, we explore a shocking family betrayal that led to a murder in broad daylight, a terrifying discovery made by a toddler... and much more!

Grab a seat, and let's get into it. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and let us know in the comments which story shocked you the most this week!