Emergency calls from botched Christa Pike execution released to US media
Newly released emergency calls from the failed execution of US death row inmate Christa Pike show responders were unsure whether the calls were real or a prank. The recordings were obtained by the Associated Press.
Recordings of emergency calls made after the failed execution of US death row inmate Christa Pike have been released, showing that the response of emergency services was delayed because first responders were unsure whether the calls were genuine or a "prank". The recordings were obtained by the Associated Press news agency.
What the recordings show
The calls capture officials trying to get more information about the incident. In one, a dispatcher says the service is trying to establish whether the event is actually happening, and whether an ambulance and, or, police assistance needs to be sent. The dispatcher also says the call could be someone simply prank calling or "swatting", a term for making a false report to draw an emergency response.
The defence attorney's plea
Another recording features Kelly Gleason, Pike's defence attorney, calling for help. She says Pike is still alive and breathing and needs immediate life-saving care.
What comes next
The source also points to a separate question under discussion: whether Pike could face execution again, and by what method. It gives no answer in this material. The released recordings draw fresh attention to how emergency services reacted after the failed procedure and how quickly help was sent.
