Christa Gail Pike is set to become the first woman to be executed in the US in over two centuries.

The felon is the only woman on death row in Tennessee, after being convicted of a murder so gruesome that it still sends chills down the spines of those familiar with the case.

Pike was sentenced to death after she was found guilty of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer on January 12, 1995, when she was just 18.

The horrific murder took place in a wooded area near the University of Tennessee’s agricultural campus, as the teenagers were part of the Knoxville Job Corps program.

Pike had become jealous of her boyfriend at the time, 17-year-old Tadaryl Shipp, as she thought Slemmer was interested in him.

As a result, she would murder her classmate with a box cutter, a cleaver, and a piece of asphalt in an extremely disturbing crime.

Christa Pike is set to be executed in September 2026. Credit: The Tennessee Department of Correction

Christa Pike sues the state of Tennessee

Despite facing death in less than six months, Pike filed a lawsuit in the Davidson County Chancery Court, challenging the state's lethal injection protocol.

Her legal team has claimed that the method could cause excessive pain and violate her constitutional rights, while also arguing that her medical condition, thrombocytosis (a blood-clotting condition), could lead to complications.

They also add that her Buddhist beliefs prevent her from choosing electrocution as an alternative, though she pushed for this method back in 2002 before changing her mind.

Tennessee's new execution protocol relies on pen­tobar­bi­tal, which induces res­pi­ra­to­ry and car­diac arrest, instead of relying on the for­mer three-drug cocktail.

Pike has argued that the state's limitation on clergy, which excludes her Buddhist spiritual advisor, limits her “sin­cere­ly held reli­gious belief of Buddhism,” and violates her First Amendment rights as it “bur­dens” her right to free exer­cise of reli­gion.

The counsel for Pike explained the three reasons behind her lawsuit to the Nashville Banner, saying: “First, giv­en Christa’s unique med­ical con­di­tions, we have seri­ous reser­va­tions about the State of Tennessee’s abil­i­ty to pre­vent a tor­tur­ous exe­cu­tion.

"Second, the State’s pro­to­col fails to make any con­tin­gency plans for when things go wrong.

"Finally, requir­ing a pris­on­er to select elec­tro­cu­tion to avoid being iso­lat­ed in the final weeks of their life is par­tic­u­lar­ly cru­el and arbi­trary — espe­cial­ly for a pris­on­er like Christa, who was forced to live in soli­tary con­fine­ment for over 25 years and suf­fers from severe mental illness.”

Pike is set to be executed on September 30, 2026, becoming the only person executed in the state for a crime committed at age 18, 19, or 20 in the mod­ern death penal­ty era.

The suit also details that Pike suffers from several conditions, including: "Bipolar dis­or­der, PTSD, hyper­lipi­demia, and ​'small veins that make inser­tion of a nee­dle dif­fi­cult'."

They claim that due to her conditions, "there is a sub­stan­tial risk that [Pike] will expe­ri­ence unnec­es­sary super­added pain and suf­fer­ing, ter­ror, and disgrace."

Pike has filed a lawsuit against the state ahead of her execution. Credit: Tennessee Department of Corrections

Pike's sinister crimes

Court records reveal that Pike killed Slemmer after suspecting that she had developed feelings for her boyfriend, using a box cutter to cut her, before striking the teen with a cleaver and crushing her skull with a piece of asphalt.

She wasn't alone, as Pike was joined by her boyfriend, Shipp, and her friend, 18-year-old Shadolla Peterson, in carrying out the evil act.

A pentagram was also carved into Slemmer's chest, as Pike and boyfriend Shipp had developed an interest in the occult and devil worship.

Pike even kept a piece of Slemmer's skull, showing it off around school before the three were arrested in just 36 hours.

According to CBS News, a groundskeeper found Slemmer's body and said that she was "so badly beaten that he had first mistaken [her body] for the corpse of an animal."

Pike admitted that she continued to be violent even when Slemmer "begged" her to stop.

A University of Tennessee police officer testified that Pike returned to the scene after the body was found and "seemed amused", noting that "she was giggling," according to a report from USA Today.

Aftermath of the murder

Despite their involvement in the crime, Shipp was handed a life sentence, while Peterson was given probation for testifying against Pike and Shipp.

Pike was the only one who was capitally charged, with her legal team continuing to argue that her age at the time, history of abuse, and mental health conditions should exempt her from execution.

"Christa’s childhood was fraught with years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect," her defense team said.

"With time and treatment, she has become a thoughtful woman with deep remorse for her crime."

Pike even apologised in a letter, saying: "I was a mentally ill 18 yr. old kid. It took me numerous years to even realize the gravity of what I'd done. Even more to accept how many lives I effected [sic].

"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 team claims that if she were tried today, she would not be sentenced to death.

Featured image credit: Tennessee Department of Correction

Tennessee is preparing to carry out its first execution of a woman in more than two centuries after the state Supreme Court scheduled the execution of Christa Gail Pike, the only woman currently on Tennessee’s death row.

According to court filings dated September 30, Pike, now 49, is set to be executed on September 30, 2026.

If the sentence is carried out, she would become the first woman executed in Tennessee since 1820 and just the fourth woman executed by the state in its history.

Records from the Death Penalty Information Center show that the last woman executed in Tennessee was Martin Eve, who was hanged in 1820 for her role as an accessory to murder.

Pike was convicted for the killing of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in January 1995, a crime that remains one of the most notorious in the state’s history.

At the time, Pike was 18 and enrolled in the Knoxville Job Corps, a federal job training program.

Prosecutors said Pike became consumed by jealousy after beginning a relationship with fellow student Tadaryl Shipp, believing Slemmer was romantically interested in him.

Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, was convicted in the 1995 death of student Colleen Slemmer, 19. Credit: the Tennessee Department of Corrections.

On January 12, 1995, Pike lured Slemmer to a wooded area near the University of Tennessee’s agricultural campus.

Court records detail an exceptionally violent attack in which Pike used a box cutter and a meat cleaver, carved a pentagram into Slemmer’s body, and ultimately crushed her skull with a piece of asphalt.

Prosecutors also said Pike later kept part of the victim’s skull as a trophy.

In 1996, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

Shipp received a life sentence with the possibility of parole, while a third accomplice testified against Pike and was granted probation.

Pike’s violent behavior continued behind bars.

In 2004, she was convicted of attempting to strangle another inmate, resulting in an additional 25-year sentence added to her existing punishment, according to the Nashville Banner.

For nearly three decades, Pike’s legal team has pursued appeals, arguing that her execution would be unconstitutional due to her mental health history and the abuse she suffered as a child.

Her attorneys say she endured years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect and was not properly diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder until years after her conviction.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Pike’s legal team said that with treatment and time, she has shown remorse and personal growth, stating: "Christa’s childhood was fraught with years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect … With time and treatment for bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders, which were not diagnosed until years later, Christa has become a thoughtful woman with deep remorse for her crime."

A correctional facility in Tennessee. Credit: Ralf-Finn Hestoft/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images.

Tennessee resumed executions after a multi-year pause to review lethal injection procedures, carrying out its most recent execution in 2025.

Pike’s scheduled execution has already reignited debate, with supporters emphasizing the brutality of the crime and opponents calling for clemency based on her mental health and traumatic upbringing.

Unless her remaining appeals are successful, Pike is set to become a grim historical milestone for Tennessee more than 200 years after the state last executed a woman.

Featured image credit: Ralf-Finn Hestoft/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images.

Tennessee is preparing to carry out its first execution of a woman in more than two centuries after the state’s Supreme Court officially scheduled the death of Christa Gail Pike, the only woman currently on Tennessee’s death row.

Execution date scheduled for 2026

According to court documents filed on September 30, the State of Tennessee requested an execution date for Pike, now 49, which has been set for September 30, 2026. If carried out, Pike would become the first woman executed in the state since 1820, and only the fourth in Tennessee history.

The Death Penalty Information Center notes that the last recorded execution of a woman in Tennessee was Martin Eve in 1820, who was hanged for being an accessory to murder.

The 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer

Pike was just 18 years old when she committed one of the most brutal murders in Tennessee’s history. On Jan. 12, 1995, she lured 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer into a wooded area near the University of Tennessee’s agricultural campus in Knoxville.

Both women were part of the Knoxville Job Corps, a career-training program, when Pike began dating 17-year-old Tadaryl Shipp. Pike reportedly grew jealous and convinced herself that Slemmer was interested in her boyfriend, the Daily Mail reports.

Court records reveal chilling details of what followed: Pike slashed Slemmer’s throat with a box cutter, struck her with a meat cleaver, carved a pentagram into her chest, and ultimately crushed her skull with a piece of asphalt. She later kept a fragment of Slemmer’s skull as a trophy and showed it off to classmates.

Sentencing and appeals

In 1996, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Shipp received life with the possibility of parole, while a third accomplice, who testified against Pike, was given probation.

Pike’s violence didn’t stop in prison. In 2004, she was convicted of attempting to strangle a fellow inmate, earning an additional 25 years on top of her death sentence, Fox News details.

For nearly three decades, Pike’s case has moved through a lengthy appeals process.

Mental health claims

Her attorneys continue to argue against execution, pointing to her age at the time of the crime, as well as a history of childhood trauma, abuse, and untreated mental illness.

“Christa’s childhood was fraught with years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect,” her defense team stated, via CBS News. “With time and treatment, she has become a thoughtful woman with deep remorse for her crime.”

Psychological evaluations later diagnosed Pike with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, conditions her legal team argues should exempt her from capital punishment.

Tennessee’s history with the death penalty

Tennessee has a long history of using the death penalty, though executions have slowed significantly in recent years. After a three-year pause to review lethal injection drug testing, the state resumed capital punishment, carrying out its most recent execution in 2025.

Pike’s scheduled execution in 2026 has already sparked widespread debate. Supporters of the death penalty point to the brutality of her crime, while opponents highlight her traumatic upbringing and mental health issues as reasons for clemency.

Unless her appeals succeed, Pike is set to become a grim historical first for Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Featured image credit: Ralf-Finn Hestoft / CORBIS / Corbis / Getty Images.

A Tennessee lawyer representing the state’s only female death row inmate has raised fresh concerns following a failed execution attempt just last week.

Christa Gail Pike is scheduled to be executed on September 30, 2026, for her role in the 1995 torture and murder of Colleen Slemmer, a case widely known as the “Job Corps Murder.” Pike was one of three individuals involved in the incident.

However, complications during the state’s recent efforts to execute inmate Tony Carruthers have intensified the scrutiny.

The execution was halted after officials were unable to establish a backup IV line, prompting Pike’s lawyer to warn that she could face what he described as a “torturous execution.”

Expert declares Pike might not be fit for injection

Pike had filed a lawsuit against the state ahead of her execution. Credit: Tennessee Department of Corrections

In a press statement, attorney Stephen Ferrell highlighted Pike’s medical vulnerabilities, including her “small veins” and a blood disorder, thrombocytopenia.

He explained that the condition can lead to “excessive bleeding” and added that her veins “make the insertion of a needle difficult, even for the most trained medical professionals.”

Ferrell further cautioned that “the difficulty establishing IV lines is a known complication that has caused prolonged and botched executions for years...”

He also claimed Pike’s condition could result in “a bloody froth in her lungs that would amount to drowning.”

Criticizing the state’s current procedures, he added: “Since the state released the 2025 execution protocol, defense counsel, medical experts, and advocates have warned that the lack of clarity on any number of issues would result in a torturous execution.”

His comments follow calls from federal defenders to temporarily halt executions in Tennessee, citing the same IV access problems seen during Carruthers’ failed execution.

The case is drawing heightened attention as Tennessee prepares to carry out its first execution of a woman in more than 200 years.

Pike, now 49, would become the first woman executed in the state since 1820, and only the fourth in its history, if the sentence proceeds as scheduled.

The crime itself remains one of the most disturbing in the state’s history. In January 1995, Pike, then 18, lured 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer to a secluded area near the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Both were enrolled in the Job Corps program. Prosecutors said Pike acted out of jealousy, believing Slemmer was interested in her boyfriend.

According to court records, Pike carried out a prolonged and brutal attack, including slashing Slemmer’s throat, striking her with a meat cleaver, carving a pentagram into her chest, and crushing her skull. She later kept part of the victim’s skull and showed it to others.

In 1996, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Her co-defendant Tadaryl Shipp, received life with the possibility of parole, while a third accomplice who testified against Pike was given probation.

Experts contest death penalty

Pike has also committed violent acts while incarcerated. In 2004, she was convicted of attempting to strangle another inmate, resulting in an additional 25-year sentence, Fox News claimed.

Her legal team has long argued against her execution, citing her age at the time of the crime and a history of severe abuse and untreated mental illness.

“Christa’s childhood was fraught with years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect,” her representatives and CBS News had claimed: “With time and treatment, she has become a thoughtful woman with deep remorse for her crime.”

Later psychological assessments diagnosed Pike with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, which her lawyers argue should be considered in determining her eligibility for capital punishment.

Tennessee has historically enforced the death penalty, but has carried out fewer executions in recent years, including a temporary pause to review lethal injection protocols.

With Pike’s execution now scheduled, the case has reignited debate: supporters point to the brutality of the crime, while opponents emphasize her mental health and background.

Unless her appeals are successful, Pike’s execution would be a rare and historic moment in the state’s use of capital punishment.

Featured Image. Credit: Tennessee Department of Corrections

Christa Gail Pike has spent nearly 30 years behind bars since being sent to death row in Tennessee for the murder of her classmate.

Pike was just 20 when a jury convicted her of torturing and killing Colleen Slemmer in a remote woodland near Knoxville in 1995.

Now, Tennessee has set Pike’s execution date for September 30, 2026, making her the first woman to be executed in the state in over 200 years and only the 19th woman executed in the United States since 1976.

The brutal nature of the crime shocked the community. Slemmer, then 19, was beaten, stabbed, bludgeoned and had a pentagram carved into her chest.

A groundskeeper first thought the remains were those of an animal. Pike’s case has drawn fresh attention because of her arguments against execution decades after the crime.

Pike has spoken out about her sentence and accepts that she “deserves” to be in prison for life.

Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, was convicted in the 1995 death of student Colleen Slemmer, 19. Credit: the Tennessee Department of Corrections

Pike’s claims about who deserves to die

“I know I don't deserve to be out walking around with everybody else in normal society. I did something horrible that is unacceptable and I realize that,” she said from her prison cell in a WEtv documentary. However Pike also says she does not “deserve” to die for what she calls “the action of three individuals.” She has repeated, “I'm only one person.”

Her comments highlight that others were involved in the crime. Pike’s then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, was convicted of first-degree murder for his role but avoided the death penalty because he was 17 at the time.

He received a life sentence and will be eligible for parole in November. Another accomplice, Shadolla Peterson, claimed she only watched and later testified against Pike. Peterson was sentenced to probation.

Legal arguments from Pike’s defense

Attorneys for Pike have argued that her execution date should be delayed indefinitely and that she should instead serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. They contend that if Pike were tried now, a jury would likely not support the death penalty for someone who was 18 at the time of the offence.

Her legal team has also raised Pike’s troubled childhood, stating her early years included “years of physical and sexual abuse and neglect,” and that this background was not heard by the court in 1996.

The debate over Pike’s fate raises complex questions about sentencing for young offenders and how past cases are viewed through modern legal standards.

Featured image credit: the Tennessee Department of Corrections