Federal court halts Christa Pike's execution, lone woman on Tennessee's death row

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Christa Pike's scheduled execution was halted Wednesday, just hours before Tennessee was set to put her to death for a murder she committed when she was 18.

The 50-year-old has spent nearly three decades on Tennessee's death row after being convicted in the 1995 torture and murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay shortly before the execution was scheduled to take place, giving the court time to consider arguments raised by Pike's attorneys.

Questions About Her Sentencing

Pike's attorneys have argued that evidence of severe childhood sexual abuse and other traumatic experiences was not adequately considered when she was sentenced to death.

The appeal also raises questions about Pike's age at the time of the crime and evidence concerning her mental health.

The appeals court's stay does not resolve those claims. Instead, it temporarily prevents Tennessee from carrying out the execution while the court reviews the case.

Pike Was 18 When Slemmer Was Killed

Pike was convicted of killing Slemmer, a fellow student at the Job Corps program in Knoxville, in January 1995.

Prosecutors said Pike and two others lured Slemmer into a wooded area, where she was beaten and stabbed. The case drew national attention in part because of the symbolic markings found on Slemmer's body and fears at the time surrounding so-called satanic cult activity.

Pike's co-defendant, Tadaryl Shipp, was 17 when the murder occurred and received a life sentence rather than the death penalty.

Tennessee Has Not Executed a Woman in More Than 200 Years

If carried out, Pike's execution would have been historic in Tennessee.

The state has not executed a woman since the 19th century, making Pike the first woman in more than 200 years to face execution by Tennessee.

She is currently the only woman on Tennessee's death row.

Her case has also become part of a broader legal debate over how courts should treat defendants who committed capital crimes when they were very young and who have histories of severe trauma.

The State Is Fighting to Move Forward

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti's office has sought to proceed with the execution, while Pike's attorneys have continued challenging the death sentence.

After the appeals court issued the stay, Tennessee immediately sought further review from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court had previously denied Pike's application for a stay on Sept. 29, according to the court's official order, before the 6th Circuit issued its subsequent intervention.

A Case That Has Spanned Three Decades

Pike's case has remained in the courts for nearly 30 years, with her attorneys continuing to challenge both her death sentence and the circumstances surrounding her original sentencing.

The latest stay does not mean Pike has been released or that her conviction has been overturned. It temporarily pauses the execution while the federal appeals court considers the claims before it.

For now, the question of whether Tennessee will ultimately carry out Pike's death sentence remains before the courts.

Source: NBC News