Sinclair's Criminally Obsessed Announces “Dead Woman Walking: Pike vs. Tennessee”

Documentary Examines the Christa Gail Pike Case Ahead of Her Scheduled Execution

To Air Beginning September 18

HUNT VALLEY, Md. - September 17, 2026 - Sinclair's Criminally Obsessed today announced the premiere of Dead Woman Walking: Pike vs. Tennessee, an original documentary examining the case of Christa Gail Pike, the only woman currently on Tennessee's death row.

Produced in partnership with Sinclair's stations in Nashville (WZTV) and Chattanooga (WTVC), Dead Woman Walking: Pike vs. Tennessee takes an in-depth look at the crime, conviction and three decades of legal proceedings surrounding Pike, whose execution is scheduled for September 30, 2026, with an exclusive interview with Christa Pike from prison.

Pike was 18 years old when 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer was murdered in Knoxville in 1995. Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1996. More than 30 years later, her case continues to generate attention as Tennessee prepares to carry out her sentence, with Pike scheduled to be the first woman to be executed in Tennessee in over two centuries.

Through original reporting, archival material and interviews, the special examines the circumstances surrounding Slemmer's murder, Pike's prosecution and conviction, the appeals that followed and the arguments surrounding her death sentence. The program also explores the lasting impact of the case and the questions it raises about justice, punishment and capital punishment. Additional interviews in the documentary include the victim's mother who is seeking justice, and Pike's legal team, as they continue to fight to keep the execution from happening.

The documentary is part of Criminally Obsessed, Sinclair's true crime content vertical and video podcast series, which brings together original investigations, breaking crime coverage, archival reporting and long-form storytelling.

Dead Woman Walking: Pike vs. Tennessee will begin streaming September 18 on the Criminally Obsessed YouTube channel. The special will also air the following stations on September 20:

• WZTV (Nashville), 11p

• WFLI (Chattanooga), 5p

• ECYB (Tri-Cities), 6p

"Christa Gail Pike's case has remained one of Tennessee's most closely watched death penalty cases for decades," said Nickolas James, Vice President of Social Media. "Working with the stations in Tennessee allowed our team to bring together local expertise, original reporting and archival material to give audiences a comprehensive look at the case as it approaches a consequential moment."

In conjunction with the special, the Criminally Obsessed video podcast, hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Anne Emerson, will feature interviews with Stephen Ferrell and Kelly Gleason from Pike's legal team, providing additional perspective and discussion surrounding the Pike case. The episode will drop on Monday, September 21.

Follow Criminally Obsessed on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok at @criminallyobsessed, and subscribe to Criminally Obsessed on YouTube.

About Sinclair
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 178 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR, and The Nest. Sinclair's content portfolio includes AMP Media, which produces a growing slate of original programming across multiple platforms. For more information, please visit www.sbgi.net.

Media contact: Jessica Bellucci, [email protected]