Pike, 50, has spent more than three decades on death row. In a letter to NBC News, shared by her spiritual adviser, she wrote that she is "not afraid to die" but is "only nervous about the process." Gov. Bill Lee informed her Monday that he would not intervene in her case, clearing the way for the execution to proceed.
If carried out, Pike's execution will mark the first time in more than 200 years that Tennessee has put a woman to death, according to historical records cited by NBC News. That sets this case apart from the roughly 1,600 executions carried out nationwide since the death penalty resumed decades ago. Nearly all of those executed have been men.
For Pike, the wait is almost over either way. She has spent longer on death row than many Americans have been alive. Her words to NBC News read less like a plea for mercy and more like someone trying to make peace with an outcome she cannot control.