Tennessee Prison Chief Resigns After Christa Pike’s Botched Execution — What Happened?

The Tennessee prison chief who oversaw the botched execution of murderer Christa Pike has resigned, Governor Bill Lee announced Saturday.

Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada offered his resignation to Lee on Oct. 3 — three days after Pike survived two doses of a lethal injection — and will step down this month.

On Wednesday night, the governor called for a full, independent review of what may have gone wrong and halted the remaining execution the state had scheduled this year.

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Strada — who said serving as commissioner was “a great honor” — insisted he continues to “believe the Department carried out its responsibilities in accordance with the established protocol,” according to a statement obtained by The Tennessean.

“Even so, stepping aside is in the best interest of Tennesseans as the independent review moves forward,” he continued. “I believe this review is entirely appropriate and necessary, and I look forward to doing everything I can to help determine exactly what occurred.”