Tennessee Set to Execute Woman for First Time in 200 Years.

Gov. Bill Lee on Monday denied clemency for Christa Pike, clearing the way for her execution Wednesday by lethal injection. Pike, 50, was convicted in the 1995 torture and killing of Colleen Slemmer, 19.

• 200-plus years since Tennessee last executed a woman, per historical records.
• Pike was 18 at the time of the offense — the youngest woman sentenced to death in the modern era.
• A co-conspirator who was 17 received a life sentence; a third accomplice received probation.
• The doctor who oversaw a failed 2025 execution will also handle Pike's procedure.

Why it matters: Pike's lawyers argue evidence of severe childhood sexual abuse was never presented to the jury that sentenced her to death. They say such evidence would carry more legal weight under current standards.

• Lawyers also contend Tennessee's lethal injection protocol could cause her heightened psychological suffering given her trauma history.
• The state attorney general's office said a judge already found it speculative whether Pike would suffer greater mental harm from the protocol.

How 11 sources split on this story

Where they split: Whether Pike's documented childhood trauma and age at the time of the offense constitute grounds to halt or reduce her sentence is the central dispute between her lawyers and the state.

What’s next: The U.S. Supreme Court is Pike's remaining avenue for a reprieve before Wednesday.

• Pike wrote she is 'at peace' but 'nervous about the process,' according to a letter shared by her spiritual adviser.
• Will the Supreme Court intervene before the 10 a.m. Wednesday execution?
• How will Tennessee address ongoing questions about its lethal injection protocol after the failed 2025 procedure?