Christa Pike, now 50, reports suffering from “horrible nightmares” and says her “nerves are shredded.” In just eight days, she faces her worst fears as she is set to be executed in Nashville, Tennessee, a historic event marking the first execution of a woman in the state since 1819—unless Governor Bill Lee intervenes before 10 a.m. on September 30.
Pike’s legal team has submitted a lengthy 226-page clemency petition and is anxiously awaiting a potential last-minute reprieve. Presently, Pike finds herself “terrified” at the thought of dying by lethal injection.
According to the state’s updated lethal injection protocol, she will receive a single-drug dose of pentobarbital while restrained on a gurney.
If the execution proceeds, Pike has requested an all-female execution team to conduct the procedure before witnesses, including her victim’s family. Her lawyers cite her history of post-traumatic stress disorder, stemming from extensive abuse she endured as a child, including at just two years old, as a basis for this request.
Furthermore, they argue that Pike’s rare blood disorder could complicate the execution process and lead to a “prolonged and agonizing” death.
In her fear, Pike even sought legal action in August, asking for a hanging instead of lethal injection, arguing that being executed by men increases her chances of facing cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment due to the potential for pain and suffering.
Ultimately, Pike hopes to have execution removed as an option completely and instead wishes to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The state’s legal representatives, however, maintain that Pike has not provided sufficient scientific evidence to warrant a change in her sentence, asserting that it was her responsibility to do so.
Pike’s story has been highlighted in a documentary titled *Christa Pike’s Last Fight to Stop Her Execution*, where she shares that her sleep has been almost non-existent. She describes the continuous cycle of anxiety she experiences every day since being informed of her execution date, comparing her racing thoughts to a roulette wheel, and expresses that her state of mind is deteriorating further with each passing moment.
In recounting her past, documents detail the brutal 1995 murder of her friend Colleen Slemmer, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship. They both attended Job Corps in Knoxville, Tennessee. Pike felt threatened by Slemmer’s attempts to “get” her boyfriend and was reportedly driven by anger. This tension culminated in a horrific act where Pike, alongside her boyfriend, assaulted and murdered Slemmer in a violent frenzy.
The details of the crime are deeply disturbing: Pike lied about going to a Blockbuster video store before she, Shipp, and others attacked Slemmer, ultimately culminating in fatal injuries and symbolic markings on her body.
Pike’s confession during her police interview revealed a chilling narrative of violence filled with an array of intentional brutality, as well as an unsettling description of how she reacted while committing the crime. This included boasting about the murder and even bringing a piece of Slemmer’s skull back as a gruesome keepsake.
<pThe circumstances surrounding Slemmer’s death shocked the community, and Pike soon became the primary suspect, confessing to her involvement without hesitation.
Pike’s troubled past is underscored by a history of violence and abuse, which her legal team believes should be considered in light of her impending execution. A photograph included in the petition shows her as a child, a stark reminder of the trauma that marked the beginning of a turbulent life.
Her lawyers argue that this devastating history contributed directly to Pike’s outcomes, asserting it warrants a re-evaluation of her case. They reference her mental health and years spent in isolation as sufficient grounds for clemency.
Notably, while Pike was 18 at the time of the murder, her co-offender, Shipp, was only 17, leading to questions about their respective culpabilities under the law. Should the planned execution take place as scheduled, Pike is expected to wake up early on September 30 for her final moments, completing her routine and preparing for what comes next.
