Greenville Spartanburg Asheville Anderson, SC, September 28, 2026 —

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has announced that he will not intervene in the scheduled execution of Christa Gail Pike, which is slated to occur this week. This decision means Pike is proceeding towards becoming the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in more than two centuries.

Pike was convicted in 1995 for her role in the torture and murder of Colleen Slemmer. The crime took place in Knoxville. The conviction and subsequent sentencing have led to the current execution date.

The execution of Pike carries significant historical weight for the state of Tennessee. Official records indicate that no woman has been executed in the state for over 200 years. The governor’s decision not to intervene is a final step before the scheduled execution can proceed.

Further details regarding the exact date of the execution this week, beyond its proximity, were not immediately available in the summary provided. The summary also did not include specific details about the nature of the torture or the circumstances surrounding Colleen Slemmer’s murder, other than stating Pike’s conviction for those acts.

Governor Lee’s role in such cases typically involves the authority to grant clemency or intervene in death penalty sentences. His announcement confirms that he will allow the judicial process to conclude without executive intervention in this specific instance.



Story summarized from the original created by Josh Jarnagin on www.foxcarolina.com, see more information here.

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