Victims' families should not be forgotten when the person who harmed them receives money through a lawsuit. We are starting in Tennessee—with the goal of strengthening victim-compensation protections nationwide.

Colleen Slemmer was murdered in 1995. Christa Pike was convicted of killing her. Nothing can restore Colleen's life or give her family back the future that was taken from them.

On September 30, 2026, Pike survived Tennessee's attempt to execute her by lethal injection. Any potential financial recovery through execution-related litigation raises a separate question: how will the rights of Colleen's family be protected?

If Pike receives an award or settlement, Colleen's estate or eligible family members should have a meaningful opportunity to pursue any compensation legally owed to them. This petition does not claim that a payout has been made or that the family already holds an enforceable judgment.

Our demand is that legally available funds go toward enforceable victim-compensation obligations before being released for an offender's personal use.

Federal law already requires certain prisoner compensatory-damages awards to satisfy outstanding restitution orders first, with the remainder going to the prisoner. It also requires reasonable efforts to notify crime victims before those awards are paid. We should build on these protections and ensure they work in practice.

Tennessee is our first step—not the finish line.

We are calling on Cameron Sexton — Tennessee House Speaker, Randy McNally — Lieutenant Governor and Senate Speaker, and their legislative colleagues to begin preparing stronger protections for consideration in the 2027 legislative session.

The legislation should establish a clear, court-supervised process covering eligible prisoner litigation awards and settlements, including execution-related recoveries wherever legally permitted:

Notify victims or their legal representatives before eligible funds are released, and give them a meaningful opportunity to assert a claim.

Apply legally available funds to enforceable restitution orders and civil judgments first, while respecting applicable exemptions, lawful legal fees, and fair procedures.

Provide legal assistance to eligible victims' families, so pursuing compensation does not depend on navigating a complicated process alone.

These protections should apply generally—not single out one person for additional punishment. They must preserve access to the courts and accountability for unlawful government conduct. Protecting victims and holding the state accountable are not competing obligations.

Our goal is to secure a workable law in Tennessee, then take that model to other state legislatures and press Congress to strengthen federal protections where needed. That means pursuing consistent notification, meaningful access to legal help, and effective enforcement of compensation owed to victims across the country.

This campaign begins with Colleen's case. It should lead to protections that reach far beyond it.

Sign and share this petition to demand stronger victim-compensation protections—starting in Tennessee and building toward nationwide reform.

Colleen deserves to be remembered as a person, not merely a name in her killer's case.