Christa Pike's Family Speaks Out After Botched Execution
The aunt of Christa Pike, the only woman on death row in Tennessee, breaks her silence following a recent execution attempt that failed.
Christa Pike's family has spoken out for the first time about the botched execution of the woman who is the sole female inmate on Tennessee's death row. Pike's aunt, who helped raise her, shared her perspective on the recent events and the aftermath.
Pike was convicted at the age of 18 in March 1996 for the brutal murder of Knoxville Job Corps student Colleen Slemmer. Pike stabbed and beat Slemmer to death and took a piece of her skull as a trophy, which she later showed to classmates. Pike's boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, and their classmate Shadolla Peterson also played roles in the killing.
Colleen Slemmer's mother, May Martinez, and stepfather, Raul, traveled from Texas to witness the execution. Martinez had expressed concerns prior to the event that she might die before seeing Pike executed and had never received an apology from Pike in the 31 years since her daughter's murder.
During the execution attempt at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, Pike received two doses of lethal injection drugs, neither of which appeared to take effect. Medical personnel then intervened, and Pike was rushed to a hospital. Reports indicate she is now alive, awake, and talking.
The family's statement comes amid discussions about the future of capital punishment in Tennessee and the methods used in executions.