TENNESSEE – A woman awaiting execution on Tennessee’s death row shocked investigators and the public by keeping a piece of her murder victim’s skull as a grotesque souvenir and showing it off to friends.
Christa Pike was sentenced to death for the brutal January 12, 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer at a Job Corps facility. Pike’s execution is currently scheduled for September 30, 2026.
The shocking crime occurred when Pike became convinced that Slemmer was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Pike, along with Shipp and another accomplice Shadolla Pederson, lured the unsuspecting victim to a isolated location.
During the savage attack, Pike carved a pentagram into Slemmer’s chest with a box cutter before crushing her skull. The brutality of the murder was compounded by Pike’s disturbing behavior afterward.
Pike kept a piece of Slemmer’s crushed skull as a trophy and brazenly displayed it to friends, revealing a level of callousness that horrified even seasoned investigators.
The three conspirators faced vastly different fates in the legal system. Shadolla Pederson cooperated with investigators, turning state’s evidence in exchange for probation. Tadaryl Shipp was sentenced to life in prison and is currently eligible for parole.
Pike, however, received the death penalty and remains one of the few women on death row in Tennessee. Her case has drawn attention not only for the brutality of the crime but also for her shocking lack of remorse.
The murder occurred when Pike was just 18 years old, making her one of the youngest women ever sentenced to death in the United States. Her youth at the time of the crime has been a factor in various appeals, though courts have consistently upheld her sentence.
Legal experts note that Pike’s execution date of September 30, 2026 could still be delayed by appeals or other legal proceedings. Tennessee has resumed executions in recent years after a lengthy hiatus, though the state still carries out capital punishment relatively infrequently.
The case serves as a chilling reminder of the capacity for extreme violence, even among young offenders, and raises questions about what drives individuals to commit such brutal acts and display such profound lack of empathy.
Slemmer’s family has waited nearly three decades for justice in the case, enduring the prolonged appeals process that is standard in death penalty cases.
