Court halts execution of Tennessee woman, 50, convicted of murder 30 years ago

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday stayed the execution of a Tennessee woman convicted of murder 30 years ago.

Christa Pike was set to become the first woman executed in the state in 200 years, though the court ruling has placed that execution on hold, The Hill reported. The stay is merely a temporary reprieve intended to give the appeals court time to consider the appeal on its merits.

Pike was convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder in the killing of Colleen Slemmer. Her boyfriend was 17 at the time and not eligible to receive the death penalty.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.