At the center is Christa Gail Pike, 49, who has been on Tennessee’s death row for nearly three decades. Convicted in 1996 for a crime she committed at just 18, Pike became the youngest woman in the U.S. sentenced to death at the time.
Since then, she has remained the state’s only female on death row, and her case frequently resurfaces in conversations about whether such a harsh sentence was ever appropriate for someone so young.
Her execution is currently scheduled for September 30, 2026, at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. If carried out, Pike would be the 19th woman executed in the U.S. since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
Supporters argue that justice must be served, while critics emphasize her age at the time of the crime and a troubled upbringing that included unaddressed mental health struggles.
Pike’s legal team continues to push for clemency, seeking a sentence reduction to life without parole.
The fight is far from over, and the outcome could have lasting implications for how the justice system approaches the death penalty and the individuals it affects.
What do you think—should the justice system weigh age and circumstances differently in cases like this? Share your thoughts below.