In a historic and controversial decision, Tennessee has scheduled the execution of Christa Gail Pike on September 30, 2026. If carried out, Pike would become the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years and only the 19th woman executed in modern U.S. history. Pike, now 49, was just 18 when she committed a brutal murder that shocked the nation. Her case raises questions about justice, mental health, and the rarity of women facing the death penalty.
The Crime That Shocked Knoxville
In January 1995, Christa Pike, a student at the Knoxville Job Corps, believed 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer was trying to steal her boyfriend. Fueled by jealousy, Pike, along with her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp and friend Shadolla Peterson, lured Slemmer to a secluded wooded area in Knoxville, Tennessee. What followed was a horrific, hour-long attack. Court records describe how Pike beat, stabbed, and bludgeoned Slemmer, carving a pentagram into her chest and forehead. Pike even threw a large piece of asphalt at Slemmer’s head, a blow believed to be fatal. After the murder, Pike kept a fragment of Slemmer’s skull and showed it off to fellow students, bragging about the killing.
Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Shipp received a life sentence and is eligible for parole in November 2025, while Peterson, who acted as a lookout, testified against Pike and received probation.
Pike’s Perspective and Plea for Clemency
In a letter to The Tennessean, Pike expressed remorse, stating, “Think back to the worst mistake you made as a reckless teenager. Well, mine happened to be huge, unforgettable and ruined countless lives.” She described herself as a “mentally ill 18 yr. old kid” who only later realized the gravity of her actions. Pike’s legal team argues that her troubled childhood, marked by physical and sexual abuse, and undiagnosed mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and PTSD, should have mitigated her sentence. They believe that if tried today, Pike would likely receive life without parole instead of the death penalty due to her age and mental health at the time of the crime.
Supporters of Pike have launched a website advocating for clemency, highlighting her transformation over nearly three decades in prison. After 27 years in what her attorneys describe as solitary confinement, Pike has gained access to meals, classes, and religious services with other inmates, showing signs of rehabilitation.
A Mother’s Grief
Colleen Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, remains firm in her support for Pike’s execution. In 2021, she told WBIR-TV, “I just want Christa down so I can end it, relieve my daughter, so she finally can be resting.” For Martinez, the execution represents closure after years of pain, as she thinks daily of her daughter’s brutal death.
Women and the Death Penalty: A Rare Occurrence
Pike’s case stands out not only for its brutality but also for its rarity. Since 1976, only 18 women have been executed in the U.S., compared to over 1,600 men, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Women make up just 1% of modern U.S. executions and about 2% of death row inmates, with only 48 women currently on death row nationwide compared to nearly 2,100 men. “It’s extremely rare,” said Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.
Tennessee has executed only three women in its history, all between 1807 and 1819, and all were Black women, two of whom were enslaved. The details of their crimes are murky, and historical records suggest some may have been unjustly killed. Pike’s execution would mark the first in over two centuries.
A Broader Context
Pike’s scheduled execution comes amid a surge in U.S. executions in 2025, with 34 inmates executed so far—the highest in a decade—and nine more planned. States are also expanding execution methods, including firing squads in some regions. The last woman executed in the U.S. was Amber McClaughlin in 2023, notable as the first transgender person executed, convicted of murdering her ex-girlfriend.
As Pike’s execution date approaches, her case continues to spark debate about the death penalty, mental health, and gender disparities in the justice system. While her attorneys and supporters argue for mercy based on her youth and mental health struggles at the time of the crime, others, including Slemmer’s family, see the execution as justice for a heinous act that ended a young woman’s life.