Christa Pike’s final words in court have resurfaced as her execution date approaches, decades after she was sentenced to death for the murder of fellow Job Corps student Colleen Slemmer. Pike was only 18 when Slemmer, 19, was killed in Tennessee in 1995. At her 1996 trial, Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, becoming the youngest woman sentenced to death in the United States at the time.

After the verdict, Pike was about to be taken from the courtroom when she turned to Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz with an emotional request: “Can I please hug my mum before I go?” When the request was denied, she reportedly pleaded again, asking for just one embrace. Court records describe Pike crying as she was escorted away while her mother tried to comfort her. 💔

The case itself was deeply disturbing. Prosecutors argued that jealousy over Pike’s boyfriend played a major role in the killing and alleged that Pike and two others lured Slemmer to an isolated area under the impression they would smoke marijuana and resolve their conflict. Evidence presented at trial showed that Slemmer was attacked and killed, and prosecutors described additional disturbing acts surrounding the crime.

Pike has now spent nearly three decades on death row, pursuing appeals and efforts to avoid execution. She is scheduled to be executed by Tennessee on September 30, 2026, almost 31 years after Slemmer’s death. The case remains controversial and emotionally charged, but the legal outcome is clear: Pike was convicted of the murder and sentenced to death. For Slemmer’s family, however, the tragedy began with the loss of a 19-year-old woman whose life was cut short—and no court ruling can undo that loss.