Christa Pike, a 50-year-old woman, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Tennessee on September 30. Pike was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995, when Pike was 18 years old. Her lawyers are seeking a last-minute reprieve, citing a history of childhood abuse and mental illness. Pike's case has garnered attention due to its complexity and the circumstances surrounding her crime.
Pike's crime was committed in 1995, when she and her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, beat, tortured, and murdered Colleen Slemmer, a 19-year-old they met at a job training camp for troubled teens. The murder resulted in a media frenzy in Knoxville, Tennessee, due to the brutal nature of the crime. A pentagram, a symbol of Satanic ritual, was carved into Colleen's chest. Pike had accused Colleen of insulting her and trying to steal her boyfriend.
Pike's lawyers argue that her history of childhood abuse and mental illness should be considered in her case. According to forensic psychologist Dr. Diana McCoy, Pike was severely neglected by both of her parents and was physically and sexually abused by several of her mother's husbands and boyfriends. Pike was also repeatedly raped as a toddler by her grandmother's boyfriend. Her lawyers claim that this history was not presented during her trial.
Pike's defence team has filed a 226-page clemency petition, citing her history of abuse and mental illness. Sandra Babcock, an expert in gender and the death penalty at Cornell Law School, has worked on Pike's defence. Babcock states that Pike's case is unique due to her history of sexual violence, youth, and mental illness. Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in prison in 2021 and has been medicated since.
Dr. Bethany Brand, a forensic psychologist who assessed Pike in 2023, found that Pike's childhood was marked by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Brand states that Pike had untreated manic episodes due to bipolar disorder and untreated PTSD, which influenced her actions on the day of the murder. Pike's lawyers argue that if she were found guilty of the same crime today as a teenager, she would not receive a death sentence.
Colleen Slemmer's mother, May Martinez, supports Pike's execution, stating that Pike should "pay for it." Martinez told the BBC that she wants Pike's execution to happen so that her daughter "finally can be resting." Pike has requested an all-female team for her execution, citing concerns about being held down by a group of men, which would exacerbate her trauma.
Unless granted clemency by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Pike will be executed on September 30. Lee has never granted clemency in a death penalty case before. The Tennessee Supreme Court denied Pike's request to halt the execution this week. Her counsel is discussing next steps. Pike will be the first woman put to death in Tennessee in more than 200 years if her execution goes ahead.
Key points
- Christa Pike's execution is scheduled for September 30 in Tennessee.
- Pike's lawyers cite her history of childhood abuse and mental illness as grounds for clemency.
- Pike will be the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years if her execution is carried out.
