Gathering for Mercy Protest Against Death Penalty at Tennessee State Capitol

People assembled at the Tennessee State Capitol on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Nashville to protest the scheduled execution of Christa Pike. This gathering was part of the March 4 Mercy movement against the death penalty. Pike, convicted of a brutal 1995 murder, faces execution on September 30. Her case has reignited debates over the judicial system’s handling of youth crimes.

At age 18, Christa Pike committed murder and became one of the youngest women sentenced to death row. Now aged 50, she could be Tennessee’s first female execution in 200 years. Her crime involved torturing and killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer at Knoxville Job Corps. Prosecutors suggested that Pike targeted Slemmer due to jealousy, perceiving her as a romantic threat.

The crime attracted attention because of its vicious nature, the youth of those involved, and a satanic symbol carved into the victim’s body. Despite admitting guilt, Pike’s defense argues a death sentence is inappropriate given her age at the time and untreated mental health issues stemming from a past filled with abuse and neglect.

Opposition to Pike’s execution is met with a desire for justice from Slemmer’s family. Her mother, May Martinez, supports the lethal injection, longing for long-awaited justice. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee denied clemency on Monday. Pike’s attorneys have petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene. The plea emphasizes her traumatic childhood.

Assistant Federal Defender Stephen Ferrell highlighted the abuse Pike suffered, beginning in early childhood. Her legal team claims her trial neglected to present crucial information about her background. Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and PTSD later on. In a statement included in the clemency petition, Pike expressed regret over her actions: “I was a mentally ill 18-year-old kid… It sickens me now to think I had the ability to commit such a crime.”

Ferrell emphasized advancements in understanding adolescent brain development, stating Pike’s case stands out. He noted that Pike’s boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, received a life sentence due to his age, while a third teen involved was granted probation.

Since modern death penalty practices, death sentences for individuals aged 18, 19, and 20 have declined, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Robin M. Maher, Executive Director of the Center, argues a jury today might show leniency given Pike’s documented history.

“Every time I think about it, I think about Colleen feeling that pain and trying to get up and run,” Martinez said, recalling her daughter’s aspirations and how her trusting nature led to tragedy.

Colleen Slemmer’s murder deeply affected Knoxville. Prosecution alleged Pike inflicted harm with a box cutter and asphalt. Elements of the crime exacerbated fears of Satanism, a central concern during the ‘satanic panic’ era.

If executed, Pike would be Tennessee’s first female execution since 1820. Nationally, female executions are rare. Since 1976, only 18 women have been executed, around 1% of total executions, notes the Death Penalty Information Center. The execution of Amber McLaughlin, a transgender woman, occurred in Missouri in 2023, marking the first U.S. execution of a transgender woman.

In 2021, Lisa Montgomery’s execution by the federal government marked a rare case, as did Georgia’s execution of a woman in 2015.