The mother of Christa Pike’s victim said she expected the death row inmate to survive and is losing hope she’ll ever be executed.
Pike, 50, was expected to become the first woman put to death in the state in over 200 years for murdering Colleen Slemmer in 1995 but survived and is now conscious and speaking, her lawyers revealed Tuesday.
May Martinez, left, mother of murder victim Colleen Slemmer, walks out of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution during a stay of the planned execution of Christa Pike, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. AP Photo/George Walker IVChrista Pike survived an attempted execution. On Tuesday, October 6, Pike’s lawyer said she was awake and speaking. Tennessee Dept of Corrections/UPI/ShutterstockThis undated photo shows Colleen Slemmer, who was murdered in 1995. May Martinez via AP
Slemmer’s mom, May Martinez, told WBIR that she knew all along that Pike would not die and there is a chance that, if they try again, it could be the same outcome.
“It doesn’t matter what I think, they’re going to do what they’re going to do,” she told the outlet when asked what her preference would be.
Colleen Slemmer, who was tortured and killed in 1995 by Christa Pike. Family handoutDeath row inmate Christa Pike enters a Knox County Criminal Court in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Dec. 4, 2007. via REUTERSMay Martinez, right, mother of murder victim Colleen Slemmer, walks out of Riverbend Maximum Security Institution during a stay of the planned execution of Christa Pike, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. AP Photo/George Walker IV
Pike is believed to be the first person ever to survive a lethal injection in the US.
