Kemia Hassel guilty in murder of her husband Tyrone Hassel III
See Also
Kemia and her boyfriend, Jeremy Cuellar, were both charged with Tyrone's murder but are being tried separately.
Kemia was found guilty of first degree murder and conspiracy. She will be sentenced August 29.
When the verdict was read, Kemia had no reaction.
Tyrone's father, Tyrone Hassel II, was there when the verdict was read.
“It feels good, but it’s kind of bittersweet," Tyrone Hassel II said.
The three day trial included 23 witnesses called by the prosecution. Kemia did not take the stand.
The jury deliberated for just over an hour.
“Such a good man lost his life. A good family man, a good friend," said prosecutor Steve Pierangeli. “I’m just happy we could deliver justice.”
“I’m certainly disappointed. I’m disappointed for Kemia. I’m disappointed for her family as well," Chris Kessel, Kemia's attorney, said.
At just 22-years-old, Kemia could be sentenced to life in prison.
“Some of the ways you look at her and feel sorry, but then you got to get to reality of what she really did and then you can’t feel sorry for her and in another sense you hate her," Tyrone Hassel II said.
Kemia confessed to the murder in a videotaped police interview and on recorded calls to her mother from jail.
“Unfortunately whenever your client is the main source of the case against your client, it’s a very difficult obstacle to overcome," Kessel said.
“It’s just like, she’s the devil. You know, listening to that she was just saying it, I’ve had plenty of conversations with her so just hearing her in her own regular tone with no sympathy, it’s like who are you? We never knew you," Tyrone Hassel II said.
In August, Jeremy Cuellar will face trial for shooting Tyrone outside his father's home in St. Joseph Township on New Year's Eve.
“I’m definitely happy we got justice on one part, we still got another one to go through, it’s the beginning. I guess I could say it’s the beginning of the end, but nothing will ever bring him back," Tyrone Hassel II said.
Kemia and Tyrone have a 2-year-old child. Tyrone's father says he hasn't seen the child since the murder and plans to pursue custody.