Tennessee Set for Historic Execution of Woman After 200 Years

Tennessee prepares to execute Christa Pike, the first woman in 200 years, for a 1995 murder. Her case highlights trauma and mental health issues.

Editorial Desk

September 29, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Nashville, United States — Tennessee is preparing to carry out the execution of Christa Pike, marking the first time a woman will be put to death in the state in over 200 years. The scheduled execution is set for Wednesday, following Pike’s conviction in the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.

Pike, now 50, was 18 when she and her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, killed Slemmer, a classmate at Knoxville Job Corps. Prosecutors said Pike, driven by jealousy, lured Slemmer to a secluded area where they tortured and killed her. A satanic symbol was carved into Slemmer’s body, adding to the public outcry over the crime.

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Pike has not denied her guilt but her legal team argues that her sentence is unjust given her traumatic childhood, mental illness, and the age at which the crime was committed. Slemmer’s mother, May Martinez, supports the execution, stating she has waited decades for justice. If carried out, Pike’s execution would mark a significant moment in Tennessee’s history.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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