Letter/envelope set from the youngest woman sentenced to death since the reinstatement of the death penalty.
This auction is for a letter from Tennessee murderess Christa Gail Pike. On 1/12/1995, Christa Pike, with accomplices Tadaryl Shipp and Shadolla Peterson, lured a fellow Knoxville Job Corps student to a secluded area where she was tortured and murdered. Christa Pike was 18-years-old at the time. The jealousy was the motive and the torture murder was riddled with Satanic overtones. At the time of her arrest Christa Pike was said to be in possession of a part of her victim's skull, presumably kept as some sort of trophy, and a copy of Dr. Anton Szandor LaVey's The Satanic Bible. Pike would be sentenced to death 3/22/1996 for her role in the crime, becoming the youngest woman condemned in the United States since the reinstatement of capital punishment. During her incarceration Christa Pike has been anything but a model prisoner. In 2001, Christa Pike and Lillelid Murder participant Natasha Cornett attempted to kill a fellow inmate, earning Christa Pike an additional conviction of attempted first degree murder. Natasha Cornett was not convicted in relation to the attack. Then, in 2012, an escape plan was foiled by a joint law enforcement investigation. Christa Pike was being aided in her plans to escape by Tennessee correctional officer Justin Heflin and a New Jersey man who would often visit her at the prison. Due to Christa Pike's very young age, seemingly innocent appearance, and the extreme violent nature of her crime, the case has been the subject of several true crime literary works and television media.
ITEM DESCRIPTION: The completely handwritten missive is one page, penned in purple ink, and signed, "Chris." The original mailing envelope is postmarked 11/2/1999. There is no return address written anywhere on the envelope. On the reverse there is a red prison stamp which reads: THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR CENSORED AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS. The letter and envelope come inside a protective magazine sleeve with an acid free board and have been stored flat. Message me with any questions you might have. Thanks for having a look-see.