Christa Pike, Tennessee's Only Female Death Row Inmate, Awaits Execution After 30 Years

Christa Pike, Tennessee's Only Female Death Row Inmate, Awaits Execution After 30 Years Christa Pike, sentenced in 1996 for the 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, is the sole woman on Tennessee's death row. Her scheduled execution on September 30, 2026, was paused by a federal appeals court to assess claims of childhood abuse. Pike's case highlights issues of adolescent crime and mental health in the context of capital punishment. Christa Pike has been on Tennessee's death row for roughly 30 years since her 1996 conviction for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. Her execution was scheduled for September 30, 2026, but a federal appeals court halted it to review claims of sexual abuse and rape during childhood. Pike, 18 at the time, allegedly conspired with others to kill Slemmer over romantic jealousy, resulting in a brutal killing where she kept a piece of the victim's skull. Her difficult childhood and mental health issues have been cited in recent pleas for commutation.