Sandra Hemme freed after 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit

A woman who served 43 years in prison for a murder she did not commit has been freed after her conviction was overturned.

Sandra Hemme was 20 when she was convicted of stabbing to death Patricia Jeschke, a library worker in St. Joseph, Missouri, in November 1980. She was sentenced to life in prison.

There was no evidence linking her to the crime, other than a confession she made while heavily sedated at a psychiatric hospital, according to a review of her file.

Now 64, she is considered to have served the longest known wrongful conviction against a woman in U.S. history, according to her representatives.

Her legal team at the Innocence Project said they were grateful that Ms Hemme was finally reunited with her family and would “continue to fight” to clear her name.

Although she is no longer incarcerated, her case is still under review.

Judge Ryan Horsman issued his initial 118-page decision overturning Ms Hemme’s conviction on June 14. He said Ms Hemme’s lawyers had clear evidence of her innocence, including evidence that was not disclosed to her defence team at the time.

“This court finds that the totality of the evidence supports a finding of actual innocence,” Judge Horsman concluded.

The investigation found that local police ignored evidence that pointed directly to one of their own officers – Michael Holman – who was later jailed for another crime and died in 2015.

Holman’s truck was seen in the area the day of the murder, his alibi could not be corroborated, and he used Patricia Jeschke’s credit card after claiming to have found it in a ditch.

A pair of distinctive gold earrings identified by Ms Jeschke’s father were also found at Holman’s home.

None of this was disclosed to Ms Hemme’s defence team at the time, the inquest heard.

Ms Hemme was repeatedly questioned by police while under the influence of antipsychotic medication and a powerful sedative after being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital. She had been receiving occasional psychiatric care since the age of 12.

Her responses were “monosyllabic” and she was “not fully aware of what was happening,” court documents showed, and at times she could barely hold her head up and suffered muscle spasms – a side effect of the medication.

Judge Horsman found that there was no forensic evidence linking Ms Hemme to the murder. She had no motive and no witnesses linked her to the crime.

After her release, she reunited with her family at a nearby park, where she hugged her sister, daughter and granddaughter.

Her father was hospitalized and receiving palliative care this week. His legal team said they plan to visit him as soon as they can.

Defense attorney Sean O’Brien told the Star she would still need help because she spent most of her life in prison and was not eligible for Social Security.