What happened to Christa Pike’s accomplices involved in the 1995 case of Coleen Slemmer

Warning: This article contains discussion of violence, child abuse and sexual assault which some readers may find distressing

In 1995, Christa Pike took part in the murder of 19-year-old Knoxville Job Corps student Colleen Slemmer, but she didn't act alone.

Pike, who was 18 at the time, became the youngest woman to be sentenced to death in American history.

She was just 20 years old when she stood trial in March 1996 in Knox County, Tennessee, after being charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

After the best part of three decades on death row, she has now made history as the first person to survive two doses of the lethal injection.

Her attorney's claim the killer is now 'walking with help' and eating following the botched execution.

At the time, Pike was in a relationship with Tadaryl Shipp, 17. He was also convicted, but received life in prison with the possibility of parole, due to the fact he was not legally eligible for the death penalty under Tennessee law. When the offense took place, the penalty could not be imposed on someone under the age of 18.

The Tennessee Board of Parole declined to grant Shipp parole in 2025 (WBIR Channel 10)

In October 2025, the Tennessee Board of Parole declined to grant Shipp parole.

Board member Tim Gobble cited the seriousness of Slemmer's murder when voting to deny parole, and recommended his case be reviewed again in October 2030, WVLT 8 reported.

Slemmer knew both Pike and Shipp, and it was said Pike believed Slemmer was trying to 'steal' her boyfriend from her.

In January 1995, Pike and another student lured Slemmer to an isolated area under the pretence of smoking marijuana and making up.

Evidence suggests Pike and her accomplices attacked the 19-year-old for around 30 minutes to an hour.

After the brutal attack, Pike told a friend she had brought back a piece of Slemmer's skull as a souvenir.

Slemmer's body was discovered the next day by an employee at the University of Tennessee.

19-year-old Shadolla Peterson, was another student who was involved in the events surrounding the murder.

Peterson, however, only received probation. She pleaded guilty to pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact, and testified against the couple, as per the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.

She then received a six-year probationary sentence as part of the agreement.

Will the state seek to execute Pike again?

Christa Pike is now alive and conscious following the failed execution. (CriminallyObsessed/Youtube)

In a court hearing earlier this week (October 7), Assistant Attorney General John W. Ayers confirmed that there's no new execution date for Pike.

Judge I’Ashea Myles asked him: "So is the state’s position that the state is not going to revive an order. I understand that all executions have been suspended for now. Is that going to be permanent or is the state prepared to take the position that Miss Pike will not be rescheduled?"

Ayers replied that he was not in a position to answer that question.

The judge went on to push: "But you’re also not in a position to say that tomorrow a new execution order will not be presented. Is that correct?"

He then told the court, as per CNN: "There is no pending execution order for Miss Pike. There is no allegation that one is coming."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.