Tennessee Faces First Female Execution in Two Centuries

Tennessee is preparing to execute Christa Pike on Wednesday, marking the state's first execution of a woman in 200 years. Pike, who was 18 at the time of the crime, was convicted in the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.

Pike and her boyfriend lured Slemmer, a classmate at Knoxville Job Corps, to a secluded area where they tortured and killed her. Prosecutors stated Pike feared Slemmer was a romantic rival. The case gained notoriety due to its brutality, the young ages of those involved, and the carving of a satanic symbol into the victim's body.

Pike does not dispute her guilt, but her defense team argues that her death sentence is inappropriate given her age at the time of the crime and a history of severe childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and neglect. She was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Monday that he would not grant clemency, and Pike's attorneys have appealed to the Supreme Court to halt the execution. Assistant Federal Defender Stephen Ferrell highlighted Pike's history of abuse, stating she was sexually assaulted from toddlerhood and experienced rape at ages 11 and 17. Ferrell contended that Pike's legal team failed to present crucial information about her past and argue for leniency based on her age during the penalty phase of her trial.

Ferrell also noted that Pike's boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, who was 17 at the time, received a life sentence with the possibility of parole, and a third teen involved received probation. He argued that modern understanding of adolescent brain development suggests Pike's death sentence is an outlier, pointing out that other 18-year-olds sentenced to death in Tennessee have had their sentences reduced.

The Death Penalty Information Center stated that while 275 individuals have been executed nationwide for crimes committed at ages 18, 19, or 20 in the modern era, death sentences for this age group have become increasingly rare. Executive Director Robin M. Maher commented that a jury today, aware of Pike's documented childhood abuse and neglect, might not impose a death sentence.

Colleen Slemmer's mother, May Martinez, expressed a desire for the execution to proceed, stating she has waited decades for justice. Martinez recounted her daughter's life, remembering her as an easygoing computer enthusiast who volunteered with the Special Olympics and was trusting of others.

The killing involved Pike using a box cutter and beating Slemmer with asphalt. Shipp admitted to carving a pentagram into Slemmer's body, a detail that fueled fears of Satan worship during the "satanic panic" of the era.

If executed, Pike would be the first woman put to death in Tennessee since 1820. Nationwide, executions of women are rare, accounting for approximately 1% of all executions since 1976. Recent executions of women include Amber McLaughlin in Missouri in 2023 and Lisa Montgomery by the federal government in 2021.