Carissa Hansen: All about Christa Pike’s biological mother and where she is now

Following the botched execution of Christa Pike, the spotlight is now on her life. Pike last week survived two lethal injections, but their effects left her on a ventilator at a hospital. Her biological mother has been identified as Carissa Hansen.

Who is Carissa Hansen?

As per a report by Clarín, Carissa Hansen is from Texas and currently lives there. However, she moved between states, including West Virginia and North Carolina, during Pike’s childhood. Her exact place of residence and daily routine are not known. She lived a very private life for about 30 years and only re-emerged during post-conviction appeals and clemency petitions.

During Pike’s trial in 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer, Hansen reportedly told the court under oath that her daughter was unmanageable and that she had dropped out of high school, stolen from family members and grown marijuana at home, according to the report.


At the same time, she also admitted to prioritising her romantic partners over Christa.

Carissa was also said to have consumed large amounts of alcohol during her pregnancy, which medical experts later said caused organic brain damage and malformations in Pike.

According to Clarín, which cited court records, Pike was moved between her mother, grandmother and several group homes during her childhood. She was routinely beaten and sexually abused as a child. Notably, Pike had previously claimed that she was sexually abused from the time she was a toddler and that she was raped at ages 11 and 17.

Christa Pike’s latest status

According to reports, Pike is still in hospital. An AP report on Tuesday said hospital staff were trying to save Pike by clearing the two doses of pentobarbital from her body.

Pike was 18 when she and her boyfriend tortured and killed a classmate, Colleen Slemmer, in a jealous rage. She later became one of the youngest women to be sentenced to death row.