Episode 99: The Murder of Scott Amedure - the Jenny Jones Show Murder Part 2

A man’s life was taken at the hands of an enraged murderer. But once the first verdict was thrown out on a technicality, the killer got another shot to present his case to a jury. The victim’s family then decided to take on the production company and very show that they believed had a hand in their son’s death. The outcome would have an impact on television and the legal system that would last for decades. This week's episode is the Murder of Scott Amedure - The Jenny Jones Show Murder Part 2.

SOURCES

People v. Schmitz, 231 Mich. App. 521, 586 N.W.2d 766 (Mich. Ct. App. 1998): https://casetext.com/case/people-v-schmitz-12

Graves v. Warner Bros, 253 Mich. App. 486, 656 N.W.2d 195 (Mich. Ct. App. 2002): https://caselaw.findlaw.com/mi-court-of-appeals/1162141.html

Graves v. Warner Bros., 669 N.W.2d 552 (Mich. 2003): https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1303869/graves-v-warner-bros/

H.R.3133 - Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019116th Congress (2019-2020): https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3133?s=1&r=2

Killer in ‘Jenny Jones’ gay crush murder released from prison, The Atlanta Journal Constitution: https://www.ajc.com/news/national/killer-jenny-jones-gay-crush-murder-released-from-prison/CMKsybhg5nhHzggybvHdNO/

Jenny Jones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Jones_(presenter)

Civil Appellate Decision:  https://web.archive.org/web/20060509214123/http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20021022_C226645_64_233O.226645.OPN.COA.PDF

Jenny Jones Hasn’t Been on TV Since 2003, But She’s Still Kept Busy, Woman’s World: https://www.womansworld.com/posts/entertainment/jenny-jones-hasn-t-been-on-tv-since-2003-here-s-what-she-s-been-up-to-142146

Jenny Jones guest who shot dead his gay 'secret admirer' takes first taste of freedom after 22 years behind bars for murder, The Daily Mail (UK): https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4823480/First-taste-freedom-Jenny-Jones-murderer.html

Jenny Jones First Interview After Murder - May 9, 1999 - Dateline NBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYxCheigg5M

Talked To Death - The Dark Side of Daytime Talk Shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPwvKfx4Dhg

LGBTQ+ "Panic" Defense, LGBT Bar: https://lgbtbar.org/programs/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/

Gay Panic Defense: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_panic_defense

Talk-Show Guest Is Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder, The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/13/us/talk-show-guest-is-guilty-of-second-degree-murder.html

The Bizarre Case Of The 'Jenny Jones' Murder, Ranker: https://www.ranker.com/list/scott-amedure-facts/jacob-shelton

Clips from the actual episode: https://youtu.be/3EvUzzbzFNc

Jenny Jones Trial (Producer testifies): https://youtu.be/W3AtwRPu7Ug

CRIME STORIES: KILLER TELEVISION: THE JENNY JONES CASE, The Paley Center for Media: https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=about&p=699&item=B:66006

Officer Says Suspect in Talk Show Slaying Was Weeping When Police Arrived, AP News: https://apnews.com/c89febad341c64d62f70afe854c6453f

Peremptory Challenge, Legal Information Institute: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/peremptory_challenge

Talk Show Guest Convicted of Murder in Second Trial, The LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-27-mn-4182-story.html

Talk-Show Host, Testifying at Murder Trial, Plays Down Her Role in Program, The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/01/us/talk-show-host-testifying-at-murder-trial-plays-down-her-role-in-program.html

PREMISE OF SHOW `SURPRISE,' JENNY JONES TELLS COURT, Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-10-31-9611010233-story.html

'Jenny Jones' talk-show killer gets 25-50 years, CNN: http://www.cnn.com/US/9612/04/jenny.jones.murder.sentence/

Homophobic "The Jenny Jones Show" killer released from prison - "The Jenny Jones Show" guest Jonathan Schmitz murdered a gay man who expressed interest in him, Salon: https://www.salon.com/test/2017/08/25/homophobic-the-jenny-jones-show-killer-released-from-prison-jonathan-schmitz/

Jenny Jones Show Killer Released from Prison, New York Daily News: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/jenny-jones-killer-released-prison-article-1.3423627

A 1995 TV show surprised him with his gay secret admirer. This week he leaves prison. The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/23/a-1995-tv-show-surprised-him-with-his-gay-secret-admirer-this-week-he-leaves-prison/

`Jenny Jones' Show Found Negligent in Murder Case, The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/05/08/jenny-jones-show-found-negligent-in-murder-case/6610c334-2468-409b-9815-89dc504273c3/?itid=lk_inline_manual_19

Court TV - Jenny Jones Testifies in Murder Trial: https://youtu.be/y7DrrLO4JC0

"Court Story: The Jenny Jones Show Murder", The Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-10-15-9710150473-story.html

Press Release: Kennedy and Markey Introduce Legislation to Ban Use of Gay and Trans Panic Defense: https://kennedy.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/06/05/2019/kennedy-and-markey-introduce-legislation-to-ban-use-of-gay-and-trans-panic-defense

S. 1721 (116th): Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2019: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1721

A Look Back at 1995 'Jenny Jones Show' Murder as Killer Is Granted Parole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INHdv-9n24g

The Jenny Jones Show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jenny_Jones_Show

Trial By Media - Where is Jenny Jones Now? PopSugar: https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/trial-by-media-where-is-jenny-jones-now-47435533

Trial By Media Re-Examines the Murder of Scott Amedure After a Talk Show Appearance. Jonathan Schmitz killed his friend after filming an episode of The Jenny Jones Show. Esquire: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a32416884/jonathan-schmitz-scott-amedure-murder-trial-by-media-true-story-jenny-jones-show/

Graves' Disease Symptoms, Causes, Diet, Treatment, and Prognosis: https://www.medicinenet.com/graves_disease/article.htm

Jonathan Schmitz, Murderpedia: https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/schmitz-jonathan.htm

Trial By Media Revisits Jenny Jones Show Murder: Man Killed Guest Who ID'd Him as Same-Sex Crush. The Netflix series Trial by Media re-examines cases that played out not just in court, but in the court of public opinion. People: https://people.com/crime/netflix-trial-by-media-jenny-jones-murder/

Court tosses judgment vs. Jenny Jones, Broadcasting Cable: https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/court-tosses-judgment-vs-jenny-jones-69569

$29 Million Judgment Against “The Jenny Jones Show” In A 1999 Civil Trial Thrown Out On Appeal, Warner Brothers: https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/29-million-judgment-against-%E2%80%9C-jenny-jones-show%E2%80%9D-1999-civil-trial-thrown-out-appeal/