Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted shortly before it was due to happen - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcw20vxxn876no)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (cw20vxxn876no@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada           Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted shortly before it was due to happen      (Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate photo of Christa Pike)    Image source,  Tennessee Department of Corrections  Image caption,  If the execution proceeds, Christa Pike would be the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years       By Stephanie Hegarty ,  World Service correspondent  and Grace Eliza Goodwin     Published 30 September 2026, 15:33 BST        Updated 6 hours ago       The execution of Tennessee inmate Christa Pike has been halted just over an hour before it was due to happen.  Pike, 50, has been awaiting execution since she was convicted and sentenced to death in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer. In their ruling on Wednesday, judges from the Sixth Circuit Appeals court said they needed more time to consider the arguments in Pike's case. It is unclear how long the pause will last. This latest ruling comes after the Supreme Court denied a reprieve and the Tennessee governor declined to grant Pike's request for clemency earlier this week. Her lawyers said that for years, the state of Tennessee argued in court that Pike had lied about being sexually abused as a child. But at a recent hearing about her execution method, the State said it does not dispute she suffered sexual abuse and rape. Pike's legal team asked the appeals court to send her motion back to the district court, arguing that if the federal courts based their ruling on the state's earlier claim that she was lying, then the federal review was affected. The appeal that led to Wednesday's stay is different from that made to the Supreme Court, which refused to hear Pike's appeal.  It came from her challenge to Tennessee's lethal injection method, which Pike's lawyers said could cause suffering beyond what is needed to carry out the death sentence - something the Constitution does not allow. The lawyers argued that Tennessee's procedures had denied Pike a fair chance to prove this. "We will continue to advocate for the lawfully imposed sentence as the courts work through this technical issue," Tennessee's Attorney General said in a statement. "It is common in capital cases for the defence to raise last minute objections following decades of litigation in numerous courts. We are asking the Supreme Court of the United States to lift the stay."      (Student Colleen Slemmer was tortured and brutally killed in the 1995 murder)    Image source,  Family handout  Image caption,  Colleen Slemmer was 19 when she was murdered in 1995       She was 18 when she and her then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, beat, tortured and murdered Colleen Slemmer, a 19-year-old they met at a job training camp for troubled teens. The murder created a media frenzy in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1995, when the teen was found with a pentagram - a symbol that is associated with satanic groups - carved into her chest. Pike has denied carving the pentagram herself. She had accused Slemmer of insulting her and trying to steal her boyfriend. Two other residents at the camp later testified that Pike had bragged about the murder before and after and showed them a piece of Slemmer's skull. A year later, Pike was sentenced to death, while Shipp - who was 17 at the time - was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole. Pike has a documented history of childhood sexual abuse, abandonment and neglect. Her lawyers believe that if she was found guilty of the same crime today as a teenager she would not receive a death sentence. Last year, Tennessee's Supreme Court ruled Pike had not shown circumstances that would justify commuting her sentence. At the time of her incarceration, Pike was the youngest person on death row, according to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cx1m7zg01xyt) United States        More on this story (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwe879654mj7o) US Supreme Court denies Christa Pike's last-ditch bid to halt execution     Published 22 hours ago          (Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate photo of Christa Pike)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwe879654mj7o) US Supreme Court denies Christa Pike's last-ditch bid to halt execution     Published 22 hours ago          (Tennessee Department of Corrections inmate photo of Christa Pike)          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pwl9g9ne1lo) Killer Christa Pike to be executed within days - but her defence say she's a victim too     Published 3 days ago          (Tennesse Department of Corrections inmate photo of Chirsta Pike, Tennessee's only woman on death row.)                (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:21 How Dame Esther Rantzen set up Childline. 00:01:21, play video How Dame Esther Rantzen set up Childline    (A black and white photo of Rantzen smiling wearing a Childline sweater, surrounded by balloons)           0:37 PM: I'd be 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell club. 00:00:37, play video PM: I'd be 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell club    (Andy Burnham wears a suit and looks at an interviewer off-screen to his right.)           0:44 Harry and Meghan criticise photographer near kid's school. 00:00:44, play video Harry and Meghan criticise photographer near kid's school    (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stood side by side, both looking away from the camera.)           0:49 Social worker kept more than 80 dogs in filthy house. 00:00:49, play video Social worker kept more than 80 dogs in filthy house    (More than 10 Springer Spaniel-type dogs crowded together on a dirty staircase.)           0:49 How the celebs are planning to play The Celebrity Traitors. 00:00:49, play video How the celebs are planning to play The Celebrity Traitors    (YouTuber and boxer King Kenny wearing a suit speaking into a microphone.)           1:17 Did one of the RAF Fairford suspects really call 999? 00:01:17, play video Did one of the RAF Fairford suspects really call 999?    (An armed police officer at a checkpoint near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.)           0:59 What makes you socially anxious? 00:00:59, play video What makes you socially anxious?    (A young woman with nose piercings, blue jeans, and a black top speaking into a BBC branded microphone, looking like she's in conversation)           0:49 Former American Idol contestant guilty of murdering wife. 00:00:49, play video Former American Idol contestant guilty of murdering wife    (Former American Idol contestant, Caleb Flynn, blows his nose in court. He is wearing a grey suit.)           0:40 Greggs to cut 740 jobs and close factories. 00:00:40, play video Greggs to cut 740 jobs and close factories    (A hanging sign showing the Greggs logo of four yellow squares on a blue background.)           0:56 UK could go 'all the way' towards rejoining EU, Burnham tells BBC. 00:00:56, play video UK could go 'all the way' towards rejoining EU, Burnham tells BBC    (Andy Burnham is seated and talking to some off camera. He has short dark hair and wears glasses. He is wearing a white shirt and dark suit jacket, with no tie.)           1:35 Passenger films moment plane starts to lose altitude. 00:01:35, play video Passenger films moment plane starts to lose altitude    (The inside of a passenger plane cabin, showing the backs of rows of seats, the overhead locks, and a crowd of people in the gangway in the distance on the left.)           0:29 Cash machines ripped from wall in overnight heist. 00:00:29, play video Cash machines ripped from wall in overnight heist    (A shot of the exterior of the Peebles branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland. There is a hole in the wall on the left where a cash point used to be. The arm of a forklift truck cuts across the foreground.)           0:42 Orionid meteor shower set to light up UK sky. 00:00:42, play video Orionid meteor shower set to light up UK sky    (Silhouette of a bare trees with a meteor shower in the night sky behind them.)           1:12 How to make these delicious chicken koftas. 00:01:12, play video How to make these delicious chicken koftas    (Chicken koftas)           1:39 Britain's three original drinking spots. 00:01:39, play video Britain's three original drinking spots    (Close up of a pint of ale on a wooden table, with a roaring fireplace in the background.)           0:50 Are you paying for other people's retirements? 00:00:50, play video Are you paying for other people's retirements?    (Someone holding a number of 10 and 20 pound notes.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g4z255y30o) Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen dies aged 86     Published 41 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cmn8e8736wjyo) Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen dies aged 86     Published 3 hours ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cw980g1lem5pt)     Live.    Netanyahu names 'hero' pilot attacked on flight as passengers arrive back in Israel     14093 viewing 14k viewing                 More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c88z4967yj5o) Dame Esther Rantzen: That's Life! presenter, Childline founder and campaigner for assisted dying      (Esther Rantzen pictured at the BBC, 13th October 1971)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cky9z31yj8ggo) Michael Sheen says being an actor will be a disadvantage on Celebrity Traitors      (Michael Sheen stands with a Welsh flag surrounded by the cast of the new Traitors series)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crz6zq5pew89o) We fear for our lives after being told our abusive exes will be freed from jail early      (Claire Milne)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq7702gvzyrxo) 'Retracing Jay's steps has given more closure'      (Debbie Duncan, a woman with brown hair and a fringe, and Jay Slater a young man with brown hair who smiles.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq7832kn4252o) 'He will never walk free': Indian judge's letter promises child sex abuse survivor      (An image that shows the back of a young girl)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c674evx4p1x1o) 'Mum sent them £140,000': How to spot the signs a loved one is being scammed      (Helen is standing in front of a garden fence. She has long hair and is wearing a black top with a black and white cardigan over it)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqde01j1p3gxo) Danni becomes first contestant to leave Bake Off      (Bake-Off promo studio shot of Danni standing in a pink studio holding up a yellow iced cake on a board with one hand. They have shoulder length dark blonde hair and are wearing a long sleeved blouse with a lace collar and a beige apron.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck7v424j7l0no) Lady A singer Charles Kelley reveals blood cancer diagnosis      (Charles Kelley of Lady A performing onstage during the 2024 People's Choice Country Awards at Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. He is wearing a gold stripey shirt and holding a microphone.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckz7z4ezn9dqo) Heart hospital worker has heart attack on shift      (Debbie, a woman with blonde hair and Pat, a woman with purple grey hair in a short bob sit at a desk with a computer and smile.)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032f30?at_mid=jo8RwUp6NN&at_campaign=Eras_Spice_Girls&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p0g7xpwt&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Eras_Spice_Girls&at_bbc_team=BBC) Five girls. One era-defining phenomenon. Meet the Spice Girls        (Eras: Spice Girls)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m003242c?at_mid=sbiDgqnp1v&at_campaign=Historys_Secret_Heroes_S4_Kiyoshi_Tanimoto_and_the_Atomic_Bomb&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=m001mcbp&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Historys_Secret_Heroes_S4_Kiyoshi_Tanimoto_and_the_Atomic_Bomb&at_bbc_team=BBC) The man who ran into Hiroshima and changed history        (History's Secret Heroes)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002zkrp?at_mid=0o22Fuzkte&at_campaign=Finding_Britains_Slave_Traders_with_David_Olusoga_S1_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002zkrm&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Finding_Britains_Slave_Traders_with_David_Olusoga_S1_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) David Olusoga sheds new light on Britain's slave traders        (Finding Britain’s Slave Traders with David Olusoga)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00316yg?at_mid=ccAc2K8tLT&at_campaign=Im_Not_A_Monster_Where_Is_Austin_Tice&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p08yblkf&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Im_Not_A_Monster_Where_Is_Austin_Tice&at_bbc_team=BBC&at_creation=News) Josh Baker sets out to uncover an American journalist's abduction        (I'm Not A Monster Presents...)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck5yw1zg8lqgo) Teens who died in car that entered river named       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw20vxxn876no) Execution of US murderer Christa Pike halted shortly before it was due to happen       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c64gvnv4eqylo) UK-France 'one in, one out' migrant scheme scrapped       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwyz59k5y75o) UK believes Iran involved in RAF Fairford incident, Burnham says       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjdv7pmj9dno) What we know about stabbing on Flydubai flight to Israel       6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmlyewr0lnj3o) Brexit referendum 'possible' in Labour election manifesto, says Burnham       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7zrljp527o) China funding UK research and sending it to Beijing's spies, MI5 warns       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c617j41x7jvpo) Singer Lola Young says vaping has made breathing feel like a 'chore'        9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crkgwvv8xvw0o) Burnham 'really concerned' if Man City owners sell up after rule breaches       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3x2z9k1zdn4o) US actor Chad Lowe 'heartbroken' by death of daughter Fiona aged 13               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()