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A woman whose murder conviction was overturned following serving 43 years in prison was released on Friday, despite attempts by Missouri’s attorney general, Andrew Bailey to keep her in jail. The Associated Press reported that Sandra Hemme, 64, was released from a prison in Chillicothe hours following a judge threatened to hold the attorney general’s office in contempt if they continued to oppose her release.
Upon leaving prison, Hemme reunited with her family at a nearby park, where she hugged her sister, her daughter and her granddaughter. The New York Post detailed the conversations the family members had upon their reunion. “You were just a baby when your mom sent me a picture of you. You looked a lot like your mom when you were little and you still look like your mom now,” Hemme told her granddaughter. The granddaughter, laughing, replied, “I get that a lot.”
Hemme’s legal team, led by the Innocence Project, identified her as the woman who remained unjustly imprisoned the longest in the United States. Sean O’Brien, one of her lawyers, told the New York Post, “It was too easy to convict an innocent person and much harder than it should be to free her, even to the point of ignoring court orders.”
Judge Ryan Horsman had ruled on June 14 that the woman’s lawyers had presented “clear and convincing evidence” of her “actual innocence” and vacated her conviction. However, Bailey, who is a Republican, fought her release in court.
According to K.S.H.B., during a court hearing Friday, Horsman warned that if Hemme was not released within hours, Bailey himself would have to appear in court Tuesday morning. The judge also faulted the prosecutor’s office for calling the prison warden and telling officials not to release the woman following the release order.
On July 8, a state appeals court ruled that the defendant should be released while the case was reviewed. The next day, Judge Horsman ruled that she should be released to go home with her sister. “The totality of the evidence supports a finding of actual innocence,” the judge said.
The woman’s immediate release was complicated by the sentences she received for crimes committed while she was incarcerated. Burton, who was exonerated in 2008, and McIntyre, exonerated in 2017, are founders of the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for justice reform.
About the case of Sandra Hemme, Burton said: “She’s been out 43 years. That’s almost the combined time Lamonte and I have been incarcerated. Together we’re doing 47 years.” McIntyre added: “My reaction is to feel free once more. I know what that feels like.”
The Missouri Department of Corrections confirmed that the ex-convict was released at 5:50 p.m., ten minutes before the court order required her release or the judge would hold Bailey in contempt. The prosecutor had argued that Hemme poses a risk to herself and others, and that she should begin serving those sentences now.
“It is a shock to the conscience of any decent human being,” said Peter Joy, professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, referring to efforts to keep Hemme in prison. According to Joy, the evidence clearly shows that she did not commit the crime.
The case of Sandra Hemme highlights the challenges of the US justice system and the persistence of some officials in upholding convictions, even in the face of evidence of innocence.
Sandra Hemme: The Longest-Serving Wrongfully Imprisoned Woman in the U.S. Finally Released
Sandra Hemme, a woman who spent 43 years behind bars for a murder she didn’t commit, was finally released from prison on Friday. The release came following a lengthy legal battle and a judge’s warning to hold the Missouri Attorney General’s office in contempt if they continued to oppose her release.
The Long Fight for Justice
Hemme’s conviction for the 1979 murder of a St. Louis man was overturned in June following the Innocence Project, her legal team, presented compelling evidence of her innocence. The evidence included witness testimony that contradicted the original trial testimony and highlighted significant inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of Hemme’s innocence, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, fought her release in court. He argued that Hemme should remain incarcerated for crimes she allegedly committed while in prison. This argument was met with strong criticism, especially considering the lack of evidence presented to support his claims.
Judge Threatens Contempt Charges Against Attorney General
Judge Ryan Horsman, who had ruled on June 14th that Hemme’s lawyers had presented “clear and convincing evidence” of her “actual innocence”, ordered her release on July 8th. He threatened to hold the Attorney General in contempt of court if Hemme wasn’t released within hours. The judge also criticized the prosecutor’s office for contacting the prison warden and instructing them not to release Hemme, despite the court order.
Hemme’s release was complicated by the sentences she received for crimes committed while she was incarcerated. This further fueled criticism of the state’s handling of her case, with many questioning why a woman who had been wrongfully imprisoned for over four decades was being held for minor offenses within the prison system.
Hemme’s Reunion With Her Family
Upon her release, Hemme reunited with her family at a nearby park. The emotions were raw and powerful, highlighting the profound impact her wrongful imprisonment had on her family. Her granddaughter, who was just a baby when Hemme was incarcerated, laughed when her grandmother joked regarding their resemblance, demonstrating the strength and resilience of family bonds.
The family reunion was a stark reminder of the immense human cost of wrongful convictions. Years of separation, missed milestones, and emotional trauma were evident in the reunion, highlighting the urgency for justice reform.
Reactions to Hemme’s Release
Reactions to Hemme’s release were generally positive, with many celebrating her freedom following decades of wrongful imprisonment. The Innocence Project highlighted the lack of evidence in the Hemme case and criticized the Attorney General’s efforts to keep her incarcerated.
Lamonte Burton, who was exonerated in 2008, and Anthony McIntyre, exonerated in 2017, both founders of the Innocence Project, emphasized the systemic issues that led to Hemme’s long incarceration. They drew parallels with their own experiences, noting the challenges faced by exonerees in rebuilding their lives and regaining their freedom.
Peter Joy, a professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis, condemned the efforts to keep Hemme imprisoned, stating that the evidence clearly demonstrated her innocence. He highlighted the case as an example of the challenges within the US justice system and how some officials continue to uphold convictions even in the face of clear evidence of innocence.
The Fight for Justice Continues
While Sandra Hemme’s release is a momentous victory for justice, it highlights the need for continued reform within the criminal justice system. The case raises serious concerns regarding the handling of wrongful convictions, the role of prosecutorial misconduct, and the challenges faced by exonerees in rebuilding their lives.
Hemme’s journey serves as a reminder of the importance of advocating for the innocent and working towards a more just and equitable criminal justice system.
