Missouri
Missouri woman who spent 43 years in prison is free after her murder conviction was overturned
A woman whose murder conviction was overturned after she served 43 years of a life sentence was released Friday, despite attempts in the last month by Missouri’s attorney general to keep her behind bars.
Sandra Hemme, 64, left a prison in Chillicothe, hours after a judge threatened to hold the attorney general’s office in contempt if they continued to fight against her release. She reunited with her family at a nearby park, where she hugged her sister, daughter and granddaughter.
“You were just a baby when your mom sent me a picture of you,” she said. “You looked just like your mamma when you were little and you still look like her.”
Her granddaughter laughed. “I get that a lot.”
Hemme had been the longest-held wrongly incarcerated woman known in the U.S., according to her legal team at the Innocence Project. The judge originally ruled on June 14 that Hemme’s attorneys had established “clear and convincing evidence” of “actual innocence” and he overturned her conviction. But Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey fought her release in the courts.
“It was too easy to convict an innocent person and way harder than it should have been to get her out, even to the point of court orders being ignored,” her attorney Sean O’Brien said. “It shouldn’t be this hard to free an innocent person.”
During a court hearing Friday, Judge Ryan Horsman said that if Hemme wasn’t released within hours, Bailey himself would have to appear in court Tuesday morning. He threatened to hold the attorney general’s office in contempt.
He also scolded Bailey’s office for calling the warden and telling prison officials not to release Hemme after he ordered her to be freed in her own recognizance. “I would suggest you never do that,” Horsman said, adding: “To call someone and tell them to disregard a court order is wrong.”
Hemme declined to address reporters after she was released. O’Brien said she was going straight to the side of her father, who was hospitalized with kidney failure and recently moved to palliative care. “This has been a long time coming,” he said of her release.
O’Brien said previously that delays had caused their family “irreparable harm and emotional distress.”
There are still struggles ahead.
“She’s going to need help,” he said, noting she won’t be eligible for Social Security because she has been incarcerated for so long.
A situation lawyers have “never seen”
Over the last month, a circuit judge, an appellate court and the Missouri Supreme Court all agreed Hemme should be released, but she was still held behind bars, leaving her lawyers and legal experts puzzled.
“I’ve never seen it,” said Michael Wolff, a former Missouri Supreme Court judge and professor and dean emeritus of Saint Louis University Law School. “Once the courts have spoken, the courts should be obeyed.”
The lone holdup to freedom came from the attorney general, who filed court motions seeking to force her to serve additional years for decades-old prison assault cases. The warden at the Chillicothe Correctional Center initially declined to let Hemme go, based on Bailey’s actions.
Horsman ruled on June 14 that “the totality of the evidence supports a finding of actual innocence.” A state appeals court ruled on July 8 that Hemme should be set free while it continued to review the case. The next day, July 9, Horsman ruled Hemme should be released to go home with her sister. The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday declined to undo the lower court rulings that allowed her to be released on her own recognizance and placed with her sister and brother-in-law.
Bailey, a Republican facing opposition in the Aug. 6 primary election, responded with another request late Thursday, asking the Circuit Court to reconsider.
Hemme was serving a life sentence at the Chillicothe Correctional Center for the 1980 stabbing death of library worker Patricia Jeschke in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Hemme’s immediate freedom was complicated by sentences she received for crimes committed while behind bars. She received a 10-year sentence in 1996 for attacking a prison worker with a razor blade, and a two-year sentence in 1984 for “offering to commit violence.” Bailey had argued that Hemme represents a safety risk to herself and others and that she should start serving those sentences now.
Her attorneys countered that keeping her incarcerated any longer would be a “draconian outcome.”
Some legal experts agreed.
Peter Joy, a law professor at the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, said the effort to keep Hemme in prison was “a shock to the conscience of any decent human being,” since evidence strongly suggests she didn’t commit the crime.
Bailey’s office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.
Bailey, who was appointed attorney general after Eric Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022, has a history of opposing overturning convictions, even when local prosecutors cite evidence of actual innocence.
Horsman, after an extensive review, concluded in June that Hemme was heavily sedated and in a “malleable mental state” when investigators repeatedly questioned her in a psychiatric hospital after the killing. Her attorneys described her ultimate confession as “often monosyllabic responses to leading questions.”
CBS News previously reported that the attorneys called her statements “wildly contradictory” and “factually impossible.”
She initially didn’t mention a murder, then claimed Jeschke was killed by a man who police later determined was in Topeka at the time, and then later said she knew about the murder because of “extrasensory perception,” according to her attorneys.
The Innocence Project accused police of manipulating Hemme into giving the confession.
“Police exploited her mental illness and coerced her into making false statements while she was sedated and being treated with antipsychotic medication,” the Innocence Project said in an online petition, according to previous CBS News reporting. “The only evidence that ever connected Ms. Hemme to the crime was her own unreliable and false confessions: statements taken from her while she was being treated at the state psychiatric hospital and forcibly given medication literally designed to overpower her will.”
Other than the confession, no evidence linked her to the crime, her trial prosecutor said.
The St. Joseph Police Department, meanwhile, ignored evidence pointing to Michael Holman — a fellow officer, who died in 2015 — and the prosecution wasn’t told about FBI results that could have cleared Hemme, so it was never disclosed before her trials, the judge found.
Evidence presented to Horsman showed that Holman’s pickup truck was seen outside Jeschke’s apartment, that he tried to use her credit card, and that her earrings were found in his home. His alibi also could not be corroborated, CBS News reported.
Horsman, in his report, called Hemme “the victim of a manifest injustice.”
Missouri, although landlocked, is a Midwestern paradise full of gems, spectacular history, and an amazing culture. These elements enchant visitors who come to the state to experience Midwestern flavor and relax. The big cities like Springfield and Kansas City, no doubt, outshine the others and sit in the front line as options for visitors. However, there are also quaint, laid-back, scantily populated towns across the state where tourists can relish a sense of oneness and communal life. From Arrow Rock, with a population below 100, to the stunning Rocheport on a bluff, discover nine charming, close-knit, and neighborly towns in Missouri to visit.
Rocheport
Rocheport is a close-knit town of just around 200 people, where everyone is valued and recognized. Although small, the town is full of adventures and memorable experiences. Adventure buffs and cycling enthusiasts can embark on the Katy Trail near the town to cycle and relish the charming scenery of a quintessential Midwest state.
Relaxed visitors can taste wines and enjoy meals at Les Bourgeois Winery and Vineyards or enjoy picnics at the park’s A-frame Wine Garden on the Manitou bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. More adventures like boating, kayaking, and fishing are available at the Missouri River, and for a touch of history, visitors can head to the Friends of Rocheport Historical Museum to explore its exhibits, including historical documents from the area’s past.
Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Genevieve sits along the Mississippi River and was founded by French Canadian colonists in 1735, making it the first permanent European settlement West of the Mississippi. Although it hosts almost 5,000 people, the town still sets the stage for visitors to experience communal bonding and a range of historic and natural attractions. For starters, it is home to the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Park hosts a large collection of French colonial architecture and other Historic buildings, such as the Green Tree Tavern.
For outdoor recreation, tourists can head to the Hickory Canyons Natural Area to hike on magnificent box canyons, sandstone cliffs, and creeks. Pickle Springs Natural Area is an alternative option, featuring a two-mile trail that winds through and bypasses creeks, ravines, bluffs, and small waterfalls. Later, art lovers can chill at the Ste. Genevieve Art Center and Museum exploring its local collection of artworks.
Hermann
Hermann is a lovely small town founded by German immigrants and steeped in German roots along the Missouri River. This warm and welcoming, close-knit community of around 2,000 people boasts a few attention-grabbing attractions for locals and visitors. The Deutschheim State Historic Site is a worthy first mention as it reflects the town’s German roots, which date back nearly two centuries. It features several brick homes including the Pommer-Gentner house (1840) and Carl Strehly house (1842) where visitors can experience the daily life of the town’s early German immigrants. The Hermann Farm Museum and Hermann Historic Museum are also great places to delve into the town’s early days as a German settlement through historic buildings and several exhibits.
In the meantime, unwind and have fun at the Hermann Riverfront Park by fishing, boating, kayaking, and canoeing on the Missouri River or hiking along the Riverfront Walking Trail. When hungry, head to the restored Tin Mill Restaurant to enjoy German specialties and tasty steaks.
Boonville
Boonville is a tightly bonded town of around 7,800 people in Cooper County, with plenty of things to see and do. The town sits atop a wooded bluff overlooking the Missouri River, where tourists can enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, and picnicking experiences. For those who love to cycle, the town hosts a part of the Katy Trail, a 240-mile trail, and a state park for cycling with gorgeous views.
Away from adventures and nature, history buffs in town can head to the Historic Depot District to explore the Rivers, Rails, & Trails Museum, Mitchell Antique Motorcar Museum, and the Katy Trail Railroad Bridge, all of which tell stories of the area’s early days. Afterward, grab a delicious pizza for lunch at Breadeaux Pizza.
Excelsior Springs
Excelsior Springs is a town built on mineral springs that grew into a community of lovely and friendly people. Today, visitors here can visit the Hall of Waters that once piped mineral water from the town’s several springs into one of the world’s longest mineral water bars for the community to bathe. Similarly, visit the Superior Well and Pagoda (1901) to marvel at the historic spring under a wooden pagoda structure, which is the last remaining mineral water well in the town.
When hungry, Ray’s Diner is an amazing spot to enjoy lunch, with views of artifacts on its walls. Don’t forget to delve into the town’s historic days and the rise of its mineral springs at the Excelsior Springs Museum, featuring a vast collection of artifacts and artworks. Afterward, head to the Fishing River near the town to immerse in a scenic natural ambiance.
Branson
Branson is a town in the Ozark Mountains, renowned as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World, while its friendly, close-knit aura remains a draw. Here, visitors will get to see and explore the Titanic Museum, a replica of the iconic ship and iceberg filled with hundreds of artifacts related to the original ship’s tragic journey on the Atlantic. The town also hosts Ripley’s Believe It or Not, a quirky attraction featuring a collapsing structure and hundreds of unusual artifacts. More interesting attractions in this town include – the Runaway Mountain Coaster, the Track Family Fun Park, and the 1880s Silver Dollar City amusement park. All of these attractions are incredibly exciting and unending.
There are also several museums in town, such as the Dinosaur Museum and Prehistoric Fossils. When it comes to dining and shopping, the town is chock-full with numerous options, including Saltgrass Steakhouse (for delicious steak lunch) and the Grand Village Shops.
Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock has just 60 residents, and no community could be more closely bonded. But beyond its pronounced sense of oneness, this Saline County town is a treasure trove of history and is entirely designated a National Historic Landmark known as the Arrow Rock Historic District. Visitors here can head to the Arrow Rock State Historic Site to explore some of the town’s most iconic attractions, including George Caleb Bingham House (1837), J. Huston Tavern (1834), the Courthouse, and Old Jail.
The site sits on a 167-acre area and also features a fishing lake, a visitor center & museum, a picnic area, and a short hiking trail. Elsewhere, the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre has been entertaining visitors with shows and musicals for over 55 years, making it the oldest of its kind in Missouri.
Van Buren
Van Buren is a charming, laid-back Ozark community of around 800 people, where everyone sees each other as family. The town lies along the Current River and next to Mark Twain National Forest, giving its residents and visitors less crowded options when they decide to enjoy nature. For starters, the beautiful and lucid waters of Current River offer recreational activities like boating, fishing, rafting, tubing, kayaking, and canoeing.
Big Springs is just four miles from the town and is one of the largest natural springs in the world. Here, tourists can hike, fish, and boat, and enjoy lunch at its restaurant. For something different, head to the Missouri Down Under Adventure Zoo to see and interact with animals such as Kangaroos, birds, and lemurs and tour the Current River Cave. Enjoy a movie later at 21 Drive-in Theatre to relax.
Carthage
Carthage is a small town of about 15,000 people with many things to love, including its close-knit community character and its reputation as America’s Maple Leaf City. Historically, this town was the site of the Battle of Carthage, the first full-scale battle of the Civil War. Today, the Battle of Carthage State Historic Site preserves its wartime history and is worth visiting. History lovers can also learn more about the war at the Civil War Museum through various war artifacts and exhibits.
Away from history, the town invites visitors to the Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens to explore beautiful paintings, stained glass windows, and figurines that serve as backdrops for iconic pictures and picnics. For those who want to enjoy a movie while in town, the Route 66 Drive-in Theatre is a great stop. Also, just walking through this town, especially in the fall, is incredibly satisfying as enchanting colors are on display everywhere.
Find absolute serenity, comfort, and the true spirit of camaraderie across these small towns in Missouri, where it is possible to know at least most of the residents. In some towns like Van Buren and Arrow Rock, it is possible to know everyone as these towns share unbreakable bonds and live like one big happy family. Plus, they offer blissful experiences with natural, historical, and cultural attractions, making them anything but boring. In a world where neighbors in most cities around the world live like strangers, these Missouri towns are the perfect places to recline if you want to feel like part of a large extended family.
Missouri
‘Enough is enough’: Missouri voters form bipartisan group to quash Republican initiative petition changes
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) – Missouri Republican lawmakers have once again put forth efforts to curtail the process for citizen-led ballot initiatives following successful campaigns to enshrine abortion rights, raise the state’s minimum wage, and create a legal sports wagering market.
In response, a newly formed political group called the “Respect Voters Coalition” is sponsoring a 2026 initiative to prevent state officials from meddling in the process altogether.
The group’s argument is rooted in the very first section of the first article of the state’s Constitution, which reads as follows:
“[We declare] that all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.” – Missouri Const. of 1875, Art. I, Sec. 1.
Ben Singer, who leads Show Me Integrity, co-founded RVC to oppose efforts to roll back the IP process. He noted that both parties have pushed this when they were in the majority.
“When Democrats were trying to attack the citizens initiative process because they didn’t like the Conservatives, who also used the citizens initiative process, Governor Ashcroft vetoed the Democrats’ attack on the ballot initiative process,” Singer said.
Ashcroft issued that veto in June 1992, writing the following in his explanation:
“It is through the initiative process that those who have no influence with elective representatives may take their cause directly to the people. The General Assembly should be reluctant, therefore, to enact legislation which places any impediments on the initiative power which are inconsistent with the reservation found in the Constitution.” – Gov. John Ashcroft, Veto Message, June 27, 1992.
Efforts to reform the state’s initiative petition process consumed much of the 2024 legislative session, including days-long filibusters by a faction of 6 Republicans demanding the issue be given priority and Democrats working to block it from passage. The process arguably deprived the House and Senate of sufficient time to review and amend the $51 billion state budget.
“These politicians who’ve taken an oath to protect the Missouri Constitution need to be reminded of that, and so that’s why groups and citizens across the state, in unbelievable momentum I’ve never seen before, are banding together to say enough is enough, and we are going to stop politicians from attacking the will of the people once and for all,” Singer said.
The Missouri House and Senate will convene on January 8 to begin the 103rd General Assembly’s first regular session.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
Copyright 2024 KY3. All rights reserved.
ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) — Missouri Republican lawmakers have once again put forth efforts to curtail the process for citizen-led ballot initiatives following successful campaigns to enshrine abortion rights, raise the state’s minimum wage, and create a legal sports wagering market.
In response, a newly formed political group called the “Respect Voters Coalition” is sponsoring a 2026 initiative to prevent state officials from meddling in the process altogether.
The group’s argument is rooted in the very first section of the first article of the state’s Constitution, which reads as follows:
“[We declare] that all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.” – Missouri Const. of 1875, Art. I, Sec. 1.
Ben Singer, who leads Show Me Integrity, co-founded RVC as a measure to push back against efforts to roll back the IP process which, he noted, have been pushed by both parties when they’ve been in the majority.
“When Democrats were trying to attack the citizens initiative process because they didn’t like the Conservatives also used the citizens initiative process, Governor Ashcroft vetoed the Democrats’ attack on the ballot initiative process,” Singer said.
Ashcroft issued that veto in June 1992, writing the following in his explanation:
“It is through the initiative process that those who have no influence with elective representatives may take their cause directly to the people. The General Assembly should be reluctant, therefore, to enact legislation which places any impediments on the initiative power which are inconsistent with the reservation found in the Constitution.” – Gov. John Ashcroft, Veto Message, June 27, 1992.
Efforts to reform the state’s initiative petition process consumed much of the 2024 legislative session, including days-long filibusters by a faction of six Republicans demanding the issue be given priority and Democrats working to block it from passage. The process arguably deprived the House and Senate of sufficient time to perform a final review and amendment of the $51 billion state budget.
“These politicians who’ve taken an oath to protect the Missouri Constitution need to be reminded of that, and so that’s why groups and citizens across the state, in unbelievable momentum I’ve never seen before, are banding together to say enough is enough, and we are going to stop politicians from attacking the will of the people once and for all,” Singer said.
The Missouri House and Senate are set to convene on January 8 to begin the First Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly.
Copyright 2024 KMOV. All rights reserved.
Zelenskyy lambastes Putin over Christmas strikes: 'What could be more inhumane?'
Trump picks Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera for Panama ambassador
'Miracle therapy' could correct heart failure in kids
Ravens rout Texans on Christmas, inch closer to division title
How iOS 18.2 now lets you share your AirTag's location with anyone
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Trump picks Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera for Panama ambassador
Five journalists killed in Israeli strike near Gaza hospital
NYC cab jumps curb, injures 7 on Christmas Day
Marjorie Taylor Greene wants death penalty for migrant who allegedly set woman on fire on subway: 'Finish him'
Who is Europe's top investor in space in 2023?
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
Technology5 days agoGoogle’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps
-
News6 days agoNovo Nordisk shares tumble as weight-loss drug trial data disappoints
-
Politics6 days agoIllegal immigrant sexually abused child in the U.S. after being removed from the country five times
-
Entertainment6 days ago'It's a little holiday gift': Inside the Weeknd's free Santa Monica show for his biggest fans
-
Lifestyle6 days agoThink you can't dance? Get up and try these tips in our comic. We dare you!
-
Technology1 week agoFox News AI Newsletter: OpenAI responds to Elon Musk's lawsuit
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
Technology1 day agoThere’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does
-
News2 days agoFrance’s new premier selects Eric Lombard as finance minister