The Sandra Hemme Story: UPDATE: The Judge's Decision

Summary

Ozarks True Crime: "The Sandra Hemme Story: UPDATE: The Judge's Decision"

Released on June 18, 2024, "Ozarks True Crime" delves deep into the heart-wrenching tale of Sandra Hemme, a woman who spent over four decades wrongfully incarcerated for a murder she did not commit. In this pivotal episode, host Anne Roderique-Jones unveils a significant breakthrough in Sandra's case, shedding light on the relentless pursuit of justice in the mysterious Ozarks region.

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1. A Groundbreaking Development

Timestamp: 01:08

The episode kicks off with Anne delivering electrifying news from the field. On June 14, 2024, Judge Ryan Horstman overturned Sandra Hemme's conviction, a decision that has been eagerly anticipated by supporters and the Innocence Project alike.

“Today is a special episode. We have a huge breakthrough in the Sandra Hemme case and we want to tell you all about it.” — Anne Roderique-Jones [01:08]

Anne narrates her surprising circumstances—staying in a remote area in Nicaragua—and how she received the life-changing news ahead of the expected timeline. She immediately contacts Sean O'Brien from Sandy's local council for the Innocence Project, who confirms the favorable ruling.

2. Revisiting Sandra Hemme's Ordeal

Timestamp: 02:44

For listeners new to the story, Anne provides a concise yet comprehensive recap of Sandra Hemme's wrongful conviction:

• The Crime: On November 12, 1980, Patricia Jeske was found murdered in her St. Joseph, Missouri apartment.
• Sandra's Situation: Despite having no connection to Jeske and being a psychiatric patient at St. Joseph State Hospital at the time, Sandra was interrogated multiple times without any physical, forensic, or eyewitness evidence linking her to the crime.
• Innocence Project Intervention: In the summer of 2023, Sandra's attorneys filed a 147-page petition with the Innocence Project, highlighting previously unpresented evidence that eventually led to her hearing.

“Sandra or Sandy Hemmy has been serving the past four plus decades in prison for a murder that was likely committed by a St. Joseph police officer.” — Anne Roderique-Jones [02:44]

3. The Judge's Ruling Explained

Timestamp: 03:38

Judge Ryan Horstman's ruling is dissected in detail, emphasizing its significance:

• New Evidence: The judge found that evidence directly implicates the now-deceased former police officer Michael Holman in Jeske's murder.
• Sandra's Disproven Statements: The only link between Sandra and the crime was her inconsistent and disproven statements made during a psychiatric crisis.
• Reasonable Doubt: The court concluded that the state's case against Sandra lacked the necessary weight to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The only evidence linking Ms. Hemmy to the crime was that of her own inconsistent disproven statements... it would be difficult to imagine that the state could prove Ms. Hemmy's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” — Judge Ryan Horstman (as reported by Anne Roderique-Jones) [03:38]

4. Community and Personal Reactions

Timestamp: 04:38

Rick Hartigan, a key figure in bringing Sandra's plight to light, shares his mixed emotions upon hearing the news:

“Well, this has never been about me. It's been about Sandra and the legal justice system... I can't imagine the feelings that Sandy and her family are having right now.” — Rick Hartigan [04:38]

Rick reflects on the personal toll of the long fight for justice and the validation he feels knowing his early reporting was accurate. He also expresses concern over the community's lack of response and emphasizes the profound loss Sandra has endured.

5. Implications of the Ruling and Next Steps

Timestamp: 06:00

Anne outlines the procedural steps following the judge's decision:

• Motion for Release: A 10-page motion has been filed, citing Sandra's age, supportive family, and lack of threat to society.
• Prosecutor's Choices: The Buchanan County prosecutor now has 30 days to either dismiss the charges entirely or proceed to a new trial.
• Potential Outcomes:
  • Dismissal: Sandra would be free immediately.
  • New Trial: If charges persist, Sandra remains a defendant but with significantly weakened grounds against her.

“This is sort of the beginning. Now that this monumental decision has been made, we're going to see if Sandy will soon be released...” — Anne Roderique-Jones [06:00]

6. Hope for the Future and Family's Perspective

Timestamp: 08:15

Looking ahead, Anne shares messages from those closest to Sandra. Jane Poocher from the Innocence Project expresses gratitude towards the court's acknowledgment of Sandra's injustice and underscores the ongoing fight for her complete exoneration.

“We will continue to fight until all charges are dismissed and Ms. Hemmy is reunited with her family.” — Jane Poocher, Innocence Project [07:30]

Additionally, Sandra's daughter, Melissa, communicates her family's relief and anticipation for her mother's release, though Anne refrains from sharing detailed conversations to respect legal advice.

“We are so very happy and grateful for Judge Horstman's ruling and we are anxiously awaiting for her to come home.” — Melissa Hemme [08:39]

7. Rick Hartigan's Vision for Sandra's Future

Timestamp: 08:15

Rick Hartigan envisions a hopeful yet sobering future for Sandra:

“I'd like to envision that she gets out and has a great meal, sits around with the family... try and pick up some pieces in these last years of her life...” — Rick Hartigan [08:15]

He expresses a heartfelt desire for Sandra to rebuild her life, surrounded by loved ones, after enduring such an extended period of wrongful imprisonment.

Conclusion

This episode of "Ozarks True Crime" masterfully weaves a narrative of injustice, resilience, and the relentless quest for truth. The overturning of Sandra Hemme's conviction marks a monumental step towards rectifying a grave wrong, yet it also underscores the enduring challenges faced by those seeking justice after decades of wrongful imprisonment. As the community awaits the prosecutor's decision, the hope for Sandra's freedom remains a beacon of light in a long, arduous journey.

Notable Quotes:

• “I'm in Nicaragua, staying at a home that's high up in the jungle, and I'm searching for a place on the porch where I can get decent WI fi.” — Anne Roderique-Jones [01:08]
• “We filed a motion to release her last night. Now we wait for the judge to rule.” — Sean O'Brien (as referenced by Anne) [01:08]
• “This is the moment we've been waiting for throughout the season.” — Anne Roderique-Jones [02:44]
• “We will continue to fight until all charges are dismissed and Ms. Hemmy is reunited with her family.” — Jane Poocher, Innocence Project [07:30]
• “Thank God for Judge Horstman... after all these years, somebody listened.” — Rick Hartigan [06:00]

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For more updates on Sandra Hemme's journey towards freedom and other gripping true crime stories from the Ozarks, subscribe to "Ozarks True Crime" on your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

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[Ann Roderick Jones]

Hey everyone. Today is a special episode. We have a huge breakthrough in the Sandra Hemmy case and we want to tell you all about it. It's June 14, 2024, and Judge Ryan Horstman has overturned Sandra Hemmes conviction. I'm in Nicaragua, staying at a home that's high up in the jungle, and I'm searching for a place on the porch where I can get decent WI fi. I didn't expect to hear the news this quickly. We were estimating mid July, but as soon as the tracking notification from the Missouri court system pops in my inbox, I reach out to Sean o' Brien. He's on Sandy's local council for the Innocence Project, and he tells me in an email that Judge Horstman ruled in our favor. There's an exclamation point at the end of that sentence. He also said, we filed a motion to release her last night. Now we wait for the judge to rule. We immediately reached out to Rick Hartigan upon finding out this news. He was the first to report on police withholding evidence, evidence now known to link former police officer Michael Holman to the murder. Rick received threats at the time for this reporting first.

[Rick Hartigan]

I mean, I know that the first reaction should be, I'm overjoyed by this. But really after that initial thought, it's kind of like I'd like to hear someone in authority say, I'm sorry.

[Ann Roderick Jones]

If you've been following along. You know that this is the moment we've been waiting for throughout the season. But if you're just joining us, here's A quick recap. Sandra or Sandy Hemmy has been serving the past four plus decades in prison for a murder that was likely committed by a St. Joseph police officer. On November 12, 1980, Patricia Jeske's body was found on the floor of her apartment in St. Joseph, Missouri. Sandy had no connection to the victim and at the time was a psychiatric patient at the St. Joseph State Hospital. Sandy was interrogated multiple times by police at the hospital. And despite no physical, forensic or eyewitness evidence linking her to the crime, Sandy spent most of her life behind bars. In the summer of 2023, Sandy was granted a hearing after her attorneys at the Innocence project filed a 147 page petition that included never presented evidence. Fast forward to January 2024 when our team traveled to Chillicothe, Missouri to attend this evidentiary hearing that has ultimately led to today's decision. In his ruling, Ryan Horstman said evidence directly ties a now deceased police officer to the killing of Patricia Jeske. The court found that, quote, the only evidence linking Ms. Hemmy to the crime was that of her own inconsistent disproven statements. Statements that were taken while she was in psychiatric crisis and physical pain. Meanwhile, the evidence implicating Michael Holman was so significant that, quote, it would be difficult to imagine that the state could prove Ms. Hemmy's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based on the weight of the evidence now available that ties Holman to this victim and the crime and excludes Ms. Hemmy. Unquote. Here's Rick again.

[Rick Hartigan]

Well, this has never been about me. It's been about Sandra and the legal justice system. But personally I felt good knowing that I had some vindication that the early reporting was born out to be accurate, that, you know, any problems that I had related to this were worth it. Maybe in some small way it helped keep some of this alive. That just the fact that some evidence about Michael Holman did make it out into the public stream and that was there, that maybe that helped move this thing forward 40 years later. So maybe a little vindication in the end. Although again, it's not about my feelings, it's really about this poor woman that basically has lost all of her adult life.

[Ann Roderick Jones]

I should note that the Missouri Attorney General's office has not responded to our request for comment. If released, Sandra Hemme's prison term will mark the longest known wrongful conviction of a woman in U.S. history. This is a title that frankly, is incredibly disheartening and frustrating. This means that Sandy has spent over four plus decades of her life in prison for A crime that she did not commit. This is a hard pill to swallow, and I can't imagine the feelings that Sandy and her family are having right now.

[Rick Hartigan]

I'm very happy and hopeful for Sandra, but I'm sad for our community. And I would really like someone in authority to recognize that. I mean, this hasn't run in our local newspaper. There doesn't seem to be any interest here in the community. I would also like to say thank God for Judge Horstman. I mean, after all these years, somebody listened. He was very attentive. You could tell. He was drawn into this case and obviously very thoughtful. And 40 some years later, here we are. It's an amazing journey. My heart breaks for Sandra and I hope there's some kind of future for her. But a lot's been taken.

[Ann Roderick Jones]

For now, a 10 page motion for her release has been filed by her attorneys. The motion lists some reasons why the judge should permit Sandy's immediate release, notably that she is elderly, has a supporting family that she will be living with, and does not present a danger to society. So what are the next steps? The judgment overturns Sandy's conviction, but that doesn't mean this is over. Sandy is now a defendant in the original murder charge. The prosecutor in Buchanan county, where the original charges were laid, now has 30 days to either dismiss the charge or send it to a new trial. If Judge Horstman grants the motion for bail, Sandy will remain free until the government lawyers decide what to do. If the Buchanan county prosecutor dismisses charges, it's over and Sandy remains free. So in a way, this is sort of the beginning. Now that this monumental decision has been made, we're going to see if Sandy will soon be released from the Chillicothe Correctional center and then ultimately see if she's granted her freedom. We'll then have the first chance to speak with Sandy's family and her lawyers from the Innocence Project. For now, Jane Poocher from the Innocence Project told us we are grateful to the court for acknowledging the grave injustice Ms. Hemmy has endured for more than four decades. We will continue to fight until all charges are dismissed and Ms. Hemmy is reunited with her family.

[Rick Hartigan]

In my mind's eye, I'd like to envision that she gets out and has a great meal, sits around with the family, they get to know one another and she can put together some semblance of a life outside prison and maybe try and pick up some pieces in these last years of her life and surround herself with family and have a little peace.

[Ann Roderick Jones]

I've been in touch with Sandy's daughter Melissa since the evidentiary hearing. We don't talk about the case because lawyers advise her not to, and I respect that, of course. But I wanted to get her feelings after this critical ruling. Here's what she texted me. I can tell you that we are so very happy and grateful for Judge Horstman's ruling and we are anxiously awaiting for her to come home. Stay tuned for more as we follow this case and Sandra's potential release. The Sandra Hemme Story is part of the Edit Audio Original series Ozark's True Crime. It is written and hosted by me, Ann Roderick Jones. This episode was produced by Ali Sierwah and Kathleen Speckart and was edited, mixed and mastered by Ali Sierwah. Our Executive producer is Steph Colburn. Thank you immensely to the entire Edit Audio team and to Patrick Rendell for the theme music. If you want to get in touch with us, you can email us at helloditaud IO that's H E L L O D I T a u d IO.

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