Christa Pike Execution: Why Tennessee plans first woman execution in 200 years

For the first time in more than two centuries, Tennessee is preparing to execute a woman. Christa Gail Pike, now 49, has been scheduled for execution on September 30, 2026, more than 30 years after the brutal 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville.

If carried out, Pike would become the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years, and only the 19th woman executed in modern U.S. history.

Why Is Christa Pike on Death Row?

Pike was just 18 when she and two accomplices lured Slemmer, a fellow student at the Knoxville Job Corps, into the woods. Driven by jealousy over a boyfriend, Pike launched a vicious, hour-long attack.

Court records say Slemmer was beaten, stabbed, had a pentagram carved into her chest, and was bludgeoned with a piece of asphalt. Pike later bragged about the crime, even showing fellow students a fragment of the victim’s skull.

She was convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to death.

• Tadaryl Shipp, Pike’s boyfriend, received life in prison and is eligible for parole in November.
• Shadolla Peterson, who acted as lookout, testified against Pike and received probation.

Why Is This Execution Historic?

If the execution proceeds, it would mark a rare event in U.S. history. According to the Death Penalty Information Center:

• Only 18 women have been executed since 1976.
• Women make up just 1% of all modern executions.
• Pike is the only woman currently on Tennessee’s death row.

Tennessee’s last execution of a woman dates back to the early 1800s, when three Black women were hanged between 1807 and 1819.

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What Does Christa Pike Say Today?

In a letter to The Tennessean, Pike expressed remorse and acknowledged her crime:

“Think back to the worst mistake you made as a reckless teenager. Mine was huge, unforgettable, and ruined countless lives… I took the life of someone’s child, sister, friend. It sickens me now.”

Her attorneys argue that Pike’s mental illness, abuse-filled childhood, and young age at the time of the crime should make her ineligible for execution today. They push for a sentence of life without parole.

How Rare Are Female Executions in the U.S.?

• Since 1976, over 1,600 men have been executed compared to only 18 women.
• Just 48 women currently sit on death row nationwide, compared to nearly 2,100 men.
• The most recent execution of a woman was Amber McClaughlin in 2023, who also made history as the first transgender person executed in the U.S.

Families Still Divided

For the family of victim Colleen Slemmer, Pike’s execution cannot come soon enough.

“I just want Christa down so I can end it,” said Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez. “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about Colleen or how rough it was.”

FAQ

Q1: Who is Christa Pike?

A1: Christa Gail Pike is the only woman on Tennessee’s death row. She was sentenced to death in 1996 for the brutal murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville.

Q2: Why is Christa Pike facing execution?

A2: Pike was convicted of luring Slemmer into the woods in 1995, where she carried out a prolonged and violent murder. She was 18 at the time and has been on death row since.

Q3: When is Christa Pike scheduled to be executed?

A3: The Tennessee Supreme Court has scheduled Pike’s execution for September 30, 2026.

Q4: Why is her execution significant?

A4: If carried out, Pike would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years and only the 19th woman executed in the U.S. since 1976.

Q5: How many women are on death row in the U.S.?

A5: Currently, around 48 women are on death row nationwide, compared to nearly 2,100 men.

Q6: How many women have been executed in the U.S. since 1976?

A6: Only 18 women have been executed in nearly 50 years, representing just 1% of all executions.

Q7: What does Christa Pike say about her crime today?

A7: Pike has expressed remorse, describing her actions as the biggest mistake of her life. She has said she was a mentally ill teenager who has since changed drastically.

Q8: What do her attorneys argue?

A8: Pike’s attorneys say her abusive childhood, mental illness, and young age at the time of the crime would likely spare her from the death penalty if tried today.

Q9: Who was Colleen Slemmer?

A9: Colleen Slemmer was a 19-year-old student at the Knoxville Job Corps. She was murdered in 1995 by Pike and her accomplices.

Q10: How many women has Tennessee executed before?

A10: Tennessee has executed only three women in its history, with the last recorded in 1819.