Warden Testimony Reveals Tennessee Execution Teams Skipped IV Drills

Court records filed by attorneys for Tennessee death-row inmates reveal that prison execution teams did not practice inserting intravenous lines during training sessions, according to testimony from a prison warden.

The warden stated that the Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner directed staff to refrain from inserting IV lines during practice runs. Testimony further indicated that the team did not rehearse how to respond to emergencies, marking a departure from the state's previous execution protocol.

The filing arrives as Tennessee faces intensified review of its lethal-injection procedures after Christa Pike survived an attempted execution last month. During the procedure, team members made approximately 10 attempts to establish IV lines. They reportedly struggled to push saline through the final line and received warnings that some of Pike's veins had ruptured before the injections began.

Pike survived the administration of two doses of pentobarbital. She was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator before regaining consciousness and returning to prison.

Governor Bill Lee has paused executions through the end of 2026 while the state reviews the failed attempt. Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada announced his resignation amid the investigation. A judge is expected to consider the new claims next Friday.

The deposition, dated 2025, provides specific details on the training methods used by the department prior to the incident. The testimony highlights the specific instructions given by the commissioner regarding the handling of IV equipment during practice sessions.