Her legal team has fought for decades to overturn the death sentence, citing her age at the time of the crime, a history of severe childhood abuse, and psychological conditions including bipolar disorder and PTSD. They argue that Pike has shown remorse and personal growth over the years.
Supporters of the execution emphasize the brutality of Pike’s crime as justification for the sentence. Opponents counter that executing a woman for a crime committed as a teenager, particularly one shaped by lifelong abuse, raises ethical and moral concerns.
Tennessee’s death-penalty system itself has faced scrutiny. In 2022, Governor Bill Lee paused executions after the state failed to properly test lethal-injection protocols. Reforms and revised procedures allowed executions to resume in May 2025, reopening the path for Pike’s case.
If carried out, Pike will become only the fourth woman executed in Tennessee’s history. The case has drawn national attention for its combination of historic precedent, extreme violence, and complex questions about youth, trauma, and justice. Three decades after the crime, Tennessee is preparing to close a chapter that continues to stir debate and reflection on the state’s approach to capital punishment.