Everything You Need to Know About Tennessee’s Upcoming Execution of the Only Woman on Death Row

If Christa Gail Pike’s execution goes ahead as planned, she will be the first woman executed in Tennessee since the state began officially tracking capital punishment over a century ago. The Tennessee Supreme Court recently set her execution date for September 30, 2026, at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Pike’s attorneys have tried to appeal this decision but have been unsuccessful.

Typically, Tennessee uses lethal injection for executions, but electrocution is also an option for those who committed their crimes before 1999. Interestingly, several inmates chose electrocution as their preferred method between 2018 and 2019, likely due to increasing concerns about botched lethal injections in recent years.

### Pike’s Case

Christa Pike, now 49, was convicted for the brutal 1995 murder of her classmate, Colleen Slemmer. They were both attending a career program for troubled teens in Knoxville. During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Pike, then 18, believed Slemmer wanted to steal her boyfriend. Pike’s boyfriend and a friend helped in the murder, which involved horrific acts of violence.

At the time of her sentencing, Pike was the youngest person on death row. Her long stay behind bars, most notably as the only woman on death row, has raised serious concerns among her attorneys, who argue it’s akin to solitary confinement. In a recent lawsuit, they successfully argued for more social interaction, resulting in a settlement that provides Pike with better opportunities to engage with others.

### Women on Death Row

In the U.S., only 18 women have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, with the most recent execution occurring in January 2023. Current statistics show that out of about 2,100 inmates awaiting execution nationwide, only 48 are women. Research from the Death Penalty Information Center indicates that many of these women experienced violence or trauma before their convictions, leading to a shift in public perspectives on sentencing women to death.

Society’s perceptions of justice have evolved since the 1990s. Experts suggest that if Pike were tried today, factors like her age and mental health would likely lead to a different outcome. Robin Maher, from the Death Penalty Information Center, noted that juries today are less likely to impose severe sentences on younger defendants, reflecting changing attitudes toward justice.

### Appeals and Current Sentiments

Pike’s legal team highlights her mental health struggles, including PTSD and abuse she suffered as a child, which they argue were not presented during the original trial. They claim these issues would likely influence a jury today, suggesting many would believe she is not a candidate for the death penalty given her background.

As ongoing discussions continue about the death penalty’s future in America, cases like Pike’s challenge us to rethink how we view justice for those with complex histories.



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Death Penalty, Capital Punishment, Tennessee, Crime, Execution