Tennessee prison chief resigns after Christa Pike’s botched execution

The Tennessee prison chief who oversaw the botched execution of murderer Christa Pike has stepped down from the position.

Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada offered his resignation to Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Oct. 3, according to a report from The Tennessean.

Strada maintained that the department carried out its responsibilities “in accordance with established protocol,” the report stated.

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

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

• Christa Pike spoke about botched executions weeks before surviving lethal injection
• Tenn. GOP rep rips bungled Christa Pike execution: ‘All we’ve done is pick the scab off the wound’
• Christa Pike’s botched execution witness shares moment he knew ‘something’s going wrong’
• Witness reveals eerie new details from Christa Pike’s botched execution — her haunting song

Pike, 50, survived two lethal doses of a pentobarbital on Wednesday night.

She is still alive, though is unconscious, intubated and breathing through a ventilator, according to her lawyers.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.