The state of Tennessee may soon carry out its first execution of a woman in more than 200 years after the Tennessee Supreme Court approved moving forward with the death sentence of Christa Gail Pike. Now 49, Pike is the only woman on Tennessee’s death row. She was just 18 when she committed one of the state’s most shocking crimes in 1995 — a case that continues to raise legal, moral, and emotional questions decades later. If carried out, it would mark the first execution of a woman in Tennessee since 1820.
On January 12, 1995, Pike and two fellow students from a job training program were involved in the killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer near the University of Tennessee’s agricultural campus. Investigators said jealousy and personal conflict fueled the attack, which stunned both the public and law enforcement. In 1996, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
Her co-defendants received lesser punishments. Years later, Pike also received an additional sentence for assaulting another inmate. After nearly three decades of appeals, the state has requested an execution date of September 30, 2026, pending any further court action. The long legal process reflects the complexity of death penalty cases in the United States. Pike’s attorneys argue her young age at the time, troubled upbringing, and mental health history — including bipolar disorder and PTSD — should weigh against execution.
Prosecutors maintain the severity of the crime justifies the sentence and that courts have already considered these factors. The case has reignited debate over capital punishment. Supporters say it delivers justice for victims, while opponents argue it is irreversible and ethically troubling. Nearly 30 years later, the case remains a powerful reminder of how society balances justice, responsibility, and humanity.
