By [M07.site]
Published: October 2, 2025
Summary:
Christa Gail Pike, the only woman on Tennessee’s death row, is set to be executed in 2026. If carried out, she would become the first woman executed in the state in over 200 years and just the 19th woman executed in modern U.S. history.
Background on the Case
Christa Gail Pike, now 49, was convicted of the brutal 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, a fellow student at the Knoxville Job Corps, a career training program.
At just 18 years old, Pike, along with her boyfriend and another friend, lured Slemmer into a wooded area under false pretenses. Over the course of an hour, Pike carried out a horrific attack that included stabbing, bludgeoning, and carving a pentagram into the victim’s body.
Court records reveal that Pike later bragged about the killing and kept a fragment of Slemmer’s skull, which she showed to other students at the center.
Convictions and Sentencing
- Christa Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.
- Tadaryl Shipp, her then-boyfriend, received a life sentence and is eligible for parole in November.
- Shadolla Peterson, the third participant, testified against Pike and received probation.
Scheduled Execution
The Tennessee Supreme Court has set September 30, 2026, as the official execution date for Pike. If carried out, she would be:
- The first woman executed in Tennessee since the early 1800s
- The 19th woman executed in the U.S. since 1976
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, executions of women are rare, accounting for only about 1% of modern executions.
Pike’s Statement and Legal Defense
In a letter to The Tennessean, Pike acknowledged her role in the crime, stating:
“I was a mentally ill 18-year-old kid… I took the life of someone’s child, sister, friend. It sickens me now to think that someone as loving and compassionate as myself had the ability to commit such a crime.”
Her lawyers argue that, given her mental health issues and age at the time of the crime, she would not receive the death penalty if tried today. They cite her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and PTSD, which were not identified during her original trial.
Pike spent nearly 27 years in near-total isolation on death row before recently being allowed to interact with other inmates during limited activities.
Victim’s Family Reaction
The victim’s mother, May Martinez, has consistently supported Pike’s execution.
“I just want Christa down so I can end it, relieve my daughter, so she finally can be resting,” she told WBIR-TV in 2021.
“There’s not a day that goes by I don’t think about Colleen or how she died.”
Executions of Women in the U.S. and Tennessee
Since 1976:
- 1,623 men have been executed in the U.S.
- Only 18 women have faced execution
Tennessee has executed only three women in its history, all between 1807 and 1819. These were Black women, two of whom were listed as slaves, and historical records about their crimes remain incomplete.
Recent Executions and Trends
- The last woman executed in the U.S. was Amber McLaughlin in 2023, the first openly transgender person to be executed.
- Tennessee’s most recent execution was Byron Black in 2025 for the murder of his girlfriend and her two daughters.
- Executions in 2025 have surged, with 34 carried out so far and several more scheduled.
Conclusion
As Christa Gail Pike’s execution date approaches, her case remains a flashpoint in the national debate over the death penalty — raising complex questions about mental health, youth at the time of crimes, and gender disparities in capital punishment.