Tennessee Execution of Christa Gail Pike Halted by Federal Appeals Court
Tennessee's scheduled execution of Christa Gail Pike, who committed murder at age 18, was halted by a federal appeals court approximately one hour before it was set to begin. The court is reviewing allegations of childhood sexual abuse and rape…
Houston, TX, September 30, 2026 —
NASHVILLE, TN – The scheduled execution of Christa Gail Pike in Tennessee was stopped by a federal appeals court just about an hour before it was slated to take place. The halt allows the court to review allegations concerning childhood sexual abuse and rape as part of her case.
Pike, who committed murder when she was 18 years old, was set to be executed. The specific court that issued the stay was not immediately specified, nor was the exact date of the scheduled execution. However, the action was taken shortly before the process was to commence, preventing it from proceeding.
The appeals court’s decision centers on the review of claims related to Pike’s alleged experiences with childhood sexual abuse and rape. These allegations are now under examination by the court as part of its review of her case.
Pike was convicted of the 1989 murder of Colleen Slemmer. The victim was 19 years old and was reportedly tortured and killed over a period of two days. Pike was sentenced to death for the crime. Her case has been a subject of legal proceedings for decades, with appeals and reviews being a consistent part of its history.
The details regarding the timeline for the court’s review and any potential future dates for the execution were not immediately available. The stay of execution means Pike will not be put to death at this time, pending the outcome of the federal court’s deliberation on the newly considered allegations.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on abc7.com, see more information here.
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