The Missouri Supreme Court has paved the way for the release of a Missouri woman whose murder conviction was overturned after serving 43 years in prison. Sandra Hemme, now 64, had been serving a life sentence for the murder of library worker Patricia Jeschke. However, a circuit court judge ruled last month that Hemme's attorneys presented evidence of her 'actual innocence,' leading to an appeals court decision to free her while her case is under review.
Despite the favorable rulings, Hemme's immediate release has been complicated by additional sentences totaling 12 years for crimes committed while in prison. The state's Attorney General sought to keep her incarcerated, but the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the lower court rulings allowing her release on her own recognizance into the custody of her sister and brother-in-law in Higginsville, Missouri.
Her legal team, including attorney Sean O'Brien, has filed a motion requesting an emergency status conference for her prompt release. They emphasized that Hemme's family is eager to reunite with her and urged the Department of Corrections to respect the court's decision.
Circuit Court Judge Ryan Horsman, after a thorough review, found that Hemme's confession was unreliable due to her mental state during questioning and the failure to disclose evidence pointing to another suspect, Michael Holman, a former police officer. Horsman's 118-page ruling concluded that Hemme was a victim of a 'manifest injustice' and that no reasonable juror would find her guilty based on the evidence.
Hemme's case has drawn attention as she is believed to be the longest-held wrongly incarcerated woman in the U.S. Her impending release marks a significant milestone in her decades-long legal battle for justice.
