Christa Pike to be first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years - but her defence say she's a victim too

Christa Pike, a 50-year-old woman, is set to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Pike was 18 years old when she and her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, brutally murdered Colleen Slemmer in 1995. The murder, which occurred at a job training camp for troubled teens, shocked the community, as Colleen was found with a pentagram carved into her chest.

Pike has a history of childhood sexual abuse, abandonment, and neglect, which her defense team believes played a significant role in her actions. Despite years of failed appeals, Pike's execution is now scheduled for Wednesday. If carried out, she will join an elite group of only 18 women executed in the US since the 1970s. Pike's lawyers continue to fight for a last-minute reprieve, citing her history of abuse and mental illness as contributing factors to her actions.

Tennessee's Supreme Court has ruled against commuting her sentence, and a federal appeals court has affirmed that the jury already considered her difficult childhood during her trial. Colleen's mother supports Pike's execution, stating that the woman should face the consequences of her crimes.