Tennessee Death Row Case Returns
A decades-old case in Tennessee is вновь drawing national attention. More than 30 years after a 1995 killing in Knoxville, Christa Gail Pike remains the only woman on the state’s death row.
A recent ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court allows the state to move forward, renewing debate over capital punishment.
Court records state Pike was 18 and enrolled in Job Corps when tensions arose with fellow student Colleen Slemmer. Prosecutors said a planned meeting in a secluded area turned violent.
In 1996, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. One co-defendant received life in prison, while another got a reduced sentence for cooperating.
An execution is scheduled for September 30, 2026, though appeals continue. Defense attorneys cite abuse, trauma, and mental health concerns.
If carried out, it would be Tennessee’s first execution of a woman in nearly 200 years, highlighting the rarity and ongoing debate surrounding such cases.
