Tennessee’s Only Woman on Death Row Speaks Out Days Before Execution for Murder She Committed at 18

Christa Pike, who was convicted of the brutal murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995, faces execution by lethal injection on 30 September 2023. If carried out, it would mark a significant legal event, as she would become the first woman to be executed in Tennessee since 1819.

Pike, 50, is currently the only female inmate on death row in Tennessee. Her legal team has submitted appeals to Governor Bill Lee, requesting that her death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. They are also seeking intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court. As the execution date nears, interested parties are grappling with the gravity of her actions and the circumstances surrounding her case.

The incident that led to Pike’s conviction involved a group of teenagers who lured Slemmer to a secluded area on the University of Tennessee’s agricultural campus under dubious pretences. Pike believed that Slemmer was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Reports indicate that Slemmer was subjected to severe physical violence over a drawn-out period prior to her death. Pike, along with accomplices, used weapons to inflict multiple injuries, including carving a pentagram into Slemmer’s chest.

Pike’s actions sparked considerable public outrage, not only due to the nature of the crime but also because of the chilling details that emerged. After the group was arrested, police investigations revealed ominous elements such as a satanic Bible and an altar in Shipp’s residence. This evidence contributed to the image of Pike as a figure associated with dark and violent themes, a label she has subsequently contested in recent interviews.

Reflecting on the events leading up to the murder, Pike has expressed deep remorse, particularly for the pain inflicted on Slemmer’s family. “I’ve always felt bad for her mother, that I took someone’s child, someone’s sister, someone’s friend away,” she stated in a recent documentary, “Dead Woman Walking: Pike Vs Tennessee.” Her account of her upbringing reveals a profoundly troubled childhood marked by neglect, physical violence, and abuse, elements she argues influenced her behaviors as a teenager.

Court documents reveal that Pike’s early life included experiences of severe trauma, including sexual violence, which she contends contributed to her difficulties in managing her mental health. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Pike has stated that her mental health issues had reached a critical point at the time of the murder.

As the execution date looms, Pike has expressed that fears surrounding the procedure itself weigh heavily on her. She worries about the potential for complications, reminiscent of other recent botched executions. Concerns have also been raised by women’s rights organisations and mental health advocates regarding the psychological trauma that Pike might experience during the execution.

Despite the pleas from her legal team and advocates, the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has maintained that executing Pike would not violate her constitutional rights, asserting that justice must be served for Slemmer and her family. In a related point, a special master appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court concluded that Pike did not provide sufficient evidence that her past traumas would lead to undue suffering during the execution.

Pike’s case continues to elicit a complex mix of opinions within the public sphere. On one side are those who argue that her history of abuse should mitigate her sentence, while on the other, Slemmer’s mother, May Slemmer Martinez, has vocally supported the execution. Martinez emphasised that while Pike’s background is tragic, it does not excuse her actions.

Martinez, who has fought for years to reclaim her daughter’s remains following the murder, highlighted her ongoing pain and the lack of recognition of her daughter’s humanity in the discussion around Pike’s case. She has made it clear that she plans to witness Pike’s execution, a testament to her enduring sense of loss.

In light of the upcoming execution, Pike has expressed a desire to use her remaining time to advocate for youth, hoping to deter others from making similar mistakes. She has articulated a wish for her life to serve as a cautionary tale, advocating for better mental health support and awareness for at-risk individuals.

As the clock approaches the execution date, the state stands divided over the morality and implications of Pike’s potential execution, weighing the search for justice against the backdrop of a deeply troubled life marked by pain and violence.