She was 18 when she took part in the brutal 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer, a case that shocked the nation. Convicted in 1996, Pike became the youngest woman sentenced to death in the U.S.
Now, after more than 30 years in prison, she could become the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years. Pike admits her crime but argues she shouldn’t be executed, citing her age at the time, mental health issues, and personal change.
Her lawyers are challenging the state’s lethal injection method, warning it could cause severe pain—especially due to her medical condition—and say her religious beliefs prevent alternative methods.
The state insists its execution protocol is legal, while the victim’s family continues to support carrying out the sentence. Pike’s legal battle to delay or overturn her execution is ongoing.