PIERRE, S.D. - Attorney General Marty Jackley and Brown County States Attorney Larry Lovrien announced that a Hughes County jury returned a guilty verdict today finding John Hemminger, 35, Aberdeen, guilty of first degree murder, class A felony, mandatory life sentence in the state penitentiary or death.

“I want to thank the jury and our joint prosecution team for their work on this tragic case,” said Jackley. “The jury weighed the horrific evidence which included Jessica’s 23 stab wounds and a history of domestic violence. Today’s verdict sends a strong message that domestic violence will not be tolerated.”

Charges stem from an incident on January 2015, where Hemminger attacked 26-year-old Jessica Goebel and causing her death a week after the incident.

This case was investigated by the Aberdeen Police Department and the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the Brown County States Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.