Who Will Be in the Room When Christa Pike Is Executed Today?

Christa Pike, 50, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Tennessee today, September 30, 2026, after being convicted in the 1996 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer.

If the execution proceeds, Pike would become the first woman executed by the state of Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Only a limited number of people are allowed to witness the execution under Tennessee rules. They include prison officials, authorized government and judicial representatives, members of the victim’s family, selected journalists, Pike’s defense attorney, and a spiritual adviser chosen by Pike.

Inside the execution chamber, the warden or an associate warden will oversee the procedure. A prison physician will monitor Pike and officially declare the time of death.

Colleen Slemmer’s mother and stepfather are also permitted to attend the execution. Pike has requested that her spiritual adviser be present during her final moments.

The case has remained in the public spotlight for three decades, with Pike continuing to challenge aspects of her conviction and execution.