Tennessee Executes Christa Pike, First Woman in 200 Years, as Victim's Mother Witnesses
Christa Pike, convicted of the 1995 murder and torture of Colleen Slemmer, was executed by lethal injection, marking a historic event for Tennessee's justice system.
Tennessee carried out the execution of Christa Pike, 50, on Wednesday morning, making her the first woman to be executed in the state in two centuries. Pike was put to death by lethal injection at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville for the 1995 murder and torture of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.
May Martinez, Slemmer's mother, was present to witness the execution. A GoFundMe campaign enabled Martinez to travel to Tennessee for the event. "They truly cannot believe how many people have stepped up, donated, shared, prayed, and simply shown that they care. They are beyond grateful for every single one of you," the fundraiser stated. "You helped make sure they could be there for Colleen. And that means more than words can say."
Pike's legal team had lodged a challenge against the method of execution, citing religious objections as a Buddhist and concerns about a potentially painful death due to a rare blood disorder. These challenges were unsuccessful, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee rejected Pike's request for clemency. The governor stated, "After deliberate consideration of Christa Gail Pike’s request for clemency, and after a thorough review of the case, I am upholding the sentence of the State of Tennessee and do not plan to intervene."
In 1995, Pike, then 18, became convinced that Slemmer was romantically interested in her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Along with another student, Shadolla Peterson, Pike lured Slemmer to a secluded area near the University of Tennessee campus, reportedly under the pretense of reconciliation. Prosecutors stated that Slemmer was then subjected to a prolonged assault, during which Shipp carved a pentagram into her chest. Pike delivered the fatal blows to Slemmer's head with a piece of asphalt.
Pike was convicted the following year, becoming one of the youngest women ever sentenced to death in the United States. Her legal team had also requested an all-female execution team, citing Pike's trauma related to men.