COLLEEN SLEMMER’S MOTHER SPEAKS OUT AS CHRISTA PIKE’S EXECUTION NEARS

Nine days before Christa Pike is scheduled to be executed in Tennessee, the mother of her 19-year-old victim is preparing for a journey she has waited more than three decades to make.

May Martinez plans to drive more than eight hours from Florida to Nashville to witness the lethal injection of Pike, who was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of her daughter, Colleen Slemmer.

For Martinez, the trip is not about becoming part of the attention surrounding Pike. She says it is about making sure her daughter is remembered.

“It’s never about the victims,” Martinez said. “It’s like Colleen was never there.”

“SOMEBODY’S GOTTA TALK”

Slemmer was 19 when she was killed in January 1995 while attending a Job Corps program in Knoxville.

Pike, who was 18 at the time, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Her then-boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, was also convicted in connection with Slemmer’s killing and received a life sentence.

More than 31 years later, Martinez says the case has increasingly become associated with Pike rather than the young woman whose life was lost.

Martinez described herself as Colleen’s “voice,” saying that someone has to continue speaking about her daughter.

“She’s not with me. Every day, every hour, every minute, she’s gone,” Martinez said.

She remembers Colleen as playful, compassionate and fascinated by computers. Her mother also recalled her daughter’s love of roller skating and old games with her family.

“She was a nerd. But a good nerd,” Martinez said.

A LONG JOURNEY TO NASHVILLE

If the execution proceeds as scheduled, Martinez plans to make the long drive from the Jacksonville, Florida, area to Nashville.

The Tennessee Department of Correction has scheduled Pike’s execution for 10 a.m. CDT on September 30, 2026, at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville.

Martinez has said she is determined to be there, even if making the trip creates a financial burden.

A First Coast News report said Martinez and her family have discussed putting off their mortgage payment for a month if necessary so they can afford to attend.

For Martinez, being present would mark the end of a journey that began with her daughter’s death more than three decades ago.

“I WON’T SAY ANYTHING TO HER”

When asked what she would say to Pike if she had the opportunity to speak to her before the execution, Martinez said she would remain silent.

She said she plans instead to hold up a photograph of Colleen.

“My husband, he’ll say something. But I won’t,” Martinez said.

She questioned why she should speak to Pike now, after all these years, particularly because she believes neither Pike nor her family ever apologized to her.

“What’s the point?” Martinez said.

Martinez has also said that she does not view witnessing the execution as a celebration.

Instead, she has described it as keeping a promise to her daughter and ensuring that Colleen’s death is not forgotten.

PIKE’S EXECUTION REMAINS SCHEDULED

Pike is currently scheduled to become the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years if the September 30 execution proceeds.

Her attorneys have continued challenging aspects of the planned execution, including arguments concerning the lethal-injection procedure and Pike’s medical and psychological history. A three-day hearing in August examined claims about potential complications with lethal injection and the impact of Pike’s history of sexual trauma.

Pike’s legal team has also sought clemency from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

As of the latest available reports, however, the state continues to list September 30 as her scheduled execution date.

A MOTHER WHO SAYS HER DAUGHTER MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN

For Martinez, the approaching date brings back memories that have never disappeared.

She says the public conversation around the case can sometimes make Pike the central figure while leaving Colleen in the background.

That is why Martinez wants people to remember the teenager her daughter was before she became the victim of a notorious murder.

Colleen loved computers. She volunteered with children with disabilities and participated in Special Olympics events, according to her mother.

Those are the memories Martinez says should remain alongside the story of the crime.

And as she prepares to make the long journey to Nashville, she says her goal is simple: to be there for Colleen.

“It’s never about the victims,” Martinez said. “It’s like Colleen was never there.”