A woman who spent 43 years imprisoned for a murder she did not commit has been released following the overturning of her conviction.
Sandra Hemme, who was 20 years old at the time, was convicted in November 1980 for the stabbing death of library worker Patricia Jeschke in St. Joseph, Missouri. She received a life sentence.
A recent review of her case revealed that there was no substantial evidence linking her to the crime beyond a confession she made under heavy sedation in a psychiatric hospital.
Now 64, Hemme is believed to have endured the longest known wrongful conviction for a woman in U.S. history, according to her representatives.
Her legal team at the Innocence Project expressed their gratitude for her release and stated they will “continue to fight” to fully clear her name.
Although she is no longer in prison, her case is still under review.
Circuit Court Judge Ryan Horsman’s 118-page ruling, issued on June 14, overturned her conviction, citing clear evidence of her innocence, including material that had not been provided to her defense team at the time.
“This court finds that the totality of the evidence supports a finding of actual innocence,” Judge Horsman concluded.
The review found that local police ignored evidence that directly pointed to one of their own officers – Michael Holman – who later went to prison for another crime and died in 2015.
Holman’s truck was spotted in the vicinity on the day of the murder, and he was unable to corroborate his alibi. He also used Patricia Jeschke’s credit card, claiming he had found it in a ditch. Additionally, a pair of distinctive gold earrings identified by Ms. Jeschke’s father were discovered in Holman’s home.
This information was not disclosed to Ms. Hemme’s defense team at the time, according to the review.
Ms. Hemme had been interrogated by police multiple times while under the influence of antipsychotic medication and a powerful sedative after being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. She had received sporadic psychiatric treatment since the age of 12.
Her responses during interrogation were described as “monosyllabic,” and she was “not fully aware of what was happening,” according to court documents. At times, she struggled to hold her head up straight and suffered from muscle spasms due to the medication.
Judge Horsman’s review highlighted that no forensic evidence linked Ms. Hemme to the murder, and there were no witnesses or motive connecting her to the crime.
Sandra Hemme was released from prison on Friday, and the Kansas City Star reports she will be living with her sister. After her release, she was reunited with her family in a nearby park, where she embraced her sister, daughter, and granddaughter.
Her father was hospitalized and receiving palliative care this week. Her legal team indicated she plans to visit him as soon as possible.
Defense lawyer Sean O’Brien told the Star that Ms. Hemme will require ongoing support due to having spent most of her life in prison and being ineligible for social security.