Christa Pike

Christa Pike, now 50, is scheduled to be executed in Tennessee, marking the first time a woman has been put to death in the state in two centuries. Pike was convicted in the 1995 murder of her 19-year-old classmate, Colleen Slemmer, at the Knoxville Job Corps. Prosecutors stated Pike, along with her boyfriend, was responsible for the killing. Pike was only 18 at the time of the crime, making her one of the youngest women sentenced to death row. Her execution date has drawn attention, with her defense team filing a clemency petition. Despite the impending execution, her lawyers have argued that Pike is also a victim. The case highlights a significant moment in Tennessee's judicial history, as it is the first execution of a woman in the state since the early 19th century.