Missouri Woman Imprisoned for 42 Years Granted Court Hearing That Could Lead to Release

Sandra Hemme of Missouri was granted a court hearing that could lead to her release after being imprisoned for 42 years. Reports say the Missouri woman was convicted of murder for killing a library worker in 1980.

In February, lawyers for the Innocence Project filed a petition seeking to acquit Sandra Hemme, 63, of Missouri. Reports say the Missouri woman was convicted of murder for killing Patricia Jeschke, a library worker in the city of St. Joseph, on November 12, 1980.

An article in Fox News states that on June 22, the Attorney General’s Office granted the Missouri woman an evidentiary hearing that could lead to her release after serving 42 years in prison. This was after the evidence linking Hemme to Jeschke’s death were conflicting statements she gave while being a patient at the psychiatric ward of St. Joseph State Hospital.

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Missouri Woman’s Statements

According to Nozicka, the Missouri woman initially claimed that Jeschke was murdered by a man, but then later confessed she knew about the murder due to “extrasensory perception”. In 1985, Hemme was found guilty during a one-day jury trial where the only evidence was her “confession”.

However, the Innocence Project claimed that Missouri officials withheld evidence during the trial that would have incriminated a police officer from St. Joseph. Reportedly, the officer was under investigation for burglaries and insurance fraud.

Soon after Jeschke was discovered dead, the officer allegedly used her credit card. In addition, the victim’s earrings were found in the officer’s apartment. Lastly, the officer’s colleagues could not validate his alibi of where and what he was doing during the time Jeschke was killed.

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