Sandra “Sandy” Hemme, a 63-year-old woman from Missouri, has had her conviction overturned after spending 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit.
According to The Guardian, Hemme was convicted in 1985 based on incriminating statements she made while undergoing psychiatric treatment.
However, a judge has now ruled that there is “clear and convincing” evidence of her innocence.
Hemme was originally convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1980 murder of Patricia Jeschke, a library worker in St. Joseph, Missouri.
She confessed to the crime while receiving psychiatric care, initially pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty. Her conviction was later overturned on appeal.
During the crime, Hemme, then 20 years old, was undergoing treatment for auditory hallucinations, de-realization, and substance abuse, with a history of psychiatric care dating back to age 12.
Livingston County Circuit Judge Ryan Horsman recently ruled that evidence directly links Jeschke’s murder to a local police officer, Michael Holman, who later served time for another crime and has since passed away.
The judge ordered that Hemme, who has spent the past 43 years incarcerated, must be released within 30 days unless prosecutors choose to retry her case.
The ruling follows a January hearing where Hemme’s legal team, including the Innocence Project, presented evidence implicating Holman in the murder.
They argued that authorities disregarded Hemme’s conflicting statements and failed to disclose evidence crucial to her defense.
In a statement, Hemme’s attorneys expressed gratitude to the court for recognizing the profound injustice she has endured for over four decades.
Notably, Hemme’s case represents the longest-known wrongful conviction of a woman in US history.
