U.S. State Prepares for First Execution
Historic Case
Tennessee may execute Christa Gail Pike, described as the “first woman in over 200 years,”
after the state Supreme Court cleared the path for her death sentence.
Now 49, she has spent decades on death row,
making the case rare and nationally watched.
The Crime
Pike was 18 when she committed one of the state’s most
notorious murders while enrolled in the Knoxville Job Corps.
The attack, driven by jealousy and planning,
left 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer dead.
Pike was identified as the primary instigator.
Trial and Appeals
At trial, her youth and background were raised as mitigating factors, but prosecutors emphasized intent.
She was convicted of first-degree murder and became the “only woman on Tennessee’s death row.”
Appeals later cited adolescent development and rehabilitation potential.
Broader Impact
Officials are preparing for execution, drawing debate over justice and ethics.
Female executions are rare, making the case “historically and culturally significant”
in ongoing arguments about capital punishment.
