A federal appeals court has halted Tennessee's scheduled execution of a woman. According to a Wednesday (September 30)
Courts Halt Tennessee's Plan to Execute Woman For First Time in Over 200 Years
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Christina Pike was set to be sent to death in Nashville on Wednesday. She would have been the first woman set to be executed in the state of Tennessee in more than 200 years. However, according to the report, the appeals court wants to take a deeper look at her case. Specifically, it relates to her alleged rape and sexual abuse as a minor being considered during her trial.
Christina Pike's Execution Halted By Federal Appeals Court
The decision was made roughly one hour before she was scheduled to be put to death.
Of course, the most recent update in Pike's scheduled execution led to an outpouring of reactions on social media.
"We shouldn't have the death penalty if we aren't going to use it. Put her in the general population and stop talking about her. No more appeals and special privileges," one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Pike was actually a victim of rape. Can't blame her without knowing the full story. She was dealing with trauma," a second user chimed in.
"The monster kept a piece of the murdered victim's skull and drew a pentagram on the victim's chest. Eradicate this evil," a third user remarked.
Pike and her boyfriend at the time, Tadaryll Shipp, were found guilty of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995. Slemmer, Shipp, and Pike were all classmates at the Knoxville Job Corps. Prosecutors believed that Slemmer's death was a crime of passion. Pike feared that Slemmer was a "romantic rival" who would eventually drive a wedge between her and her boyfriend. So she and Shipp conspired to lure the teen to a secluded area. There, they tortured and killed her.
In part of her clemency petition, Pike says it took her "years" to fully accept the magnitude of her actions.
"I was a mentally ill 18-year-old kid. It took me numerous years to even realize the gravity of what I'd done," Pike said. "Even more to accept how many lives I affected. I took the life of someone's child, sister, friend. It sickens me now to think I could commit such a crime."
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