Tennessee Supreme Court has set the execution of Christa Gail Pike for 30 September 2026 by lethal injection or electric chair, making her the first woman to be executed in the state in more than two centuries.
Execution Date and Method
On Tuesday, the Tennessee Supreme Court scheduled Christa Gail Pike’s execution for 30 September 2026. She will be executed by lethal injection or, if inmates refuse, by the electric chair. This plan, announced by state officials, would make Pike the first female inmate in Tennessee to die by state-sanctioned execution in over 200 years.
Murder Incident Details
On 12 January 1995, 18‑year‑old Christa Gail Pike allegedly lured 19‑year‑old Colleen Slemmer into a forest in Knoxville with two other young men. Pike reportedly inflicted multiple knife wounds, carved a pentagram on Slemmer’s skin, tortured and beat her, and finally struck her head with a large piece of asphalt. She then took a fragment of Slemmer’s skull back to school and was arrested three days later.
Legal Representation and Plea
Defendants contend that Pike is not eligible for the death penalty and seek a life sentence without parole instead. Her lawyers argue that a childhood marred by physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and ongoing mental health issues—including bipolar disorder and post‑traumatic stress disorder—must be weighed when determining appropriate punishment.
Background and Rehabilitation Efforts
According to her attorneys, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder and PTSD only after the initial investigation. They highlight the correctional treatment she has received, noting her remorse and the deep guilt she claims for the crime.
Current Status
Pike remains on death row awaiting the scheduled execution, with her legal team continuing to challenge the sentence in hopes of a commutation to life imprisonment.
