Death penalty still an option for man accused of murdering Ammon woman
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IDAHO FALLS — The death penalty is still on the table for a man accused of murdering an Ammon woman with a baseball bat in June.
Bonneville County Prosecutor Danny Clark filed a notice to seek the death penalty in the case of Jameion Hernandez, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.
“The state is required to file the notice of intent to seek the death penalty within 60 days of the arraignment,” Clark tells EastIdahoNews.com. “There are still many tests such as DNA and a skeletal reconstruction by the FBI that are outstanding which could have a bearing on whether the death penalty is appropriate.”
Clark says the notice was filed to preserve the ability to seek the death penalty at a later date depending on the outcome of the tests.
Hernandez is accused of breaking into the home of 62-year-old Lisa Stukey and beating her to death with a baseball bat in the early morning hours of June 16.
Detective: Hernandez broke into Lisa Stukey’s home, killed her with a baseball bat
He was said to be wearing black clothes, a mask and gloves when he arrived at the home on Ross Avenue. Bonneville County Sheriff Detective Korey Payne said during a July court hearing that Hernandez initially tried to pick the lock, but was unsuccessful. He is said to have then kicked the door in, but “got spooked” and returned to his home.
Payne said Hernandez later returned with a purple aluminum baseball bat and worked his way to Stukey’s bedroom where he struck her on the left side of the face with the bat.
She collapsed onto the floor, according to detectives, and when he heard her moaning he’s accused of hitting her again.
“Jameion put a shirt over her head to not see her as he hit her with the bat … to finish her off,” Payne said.
Hernandez told investigators that afterwards he left the home and threw the bat into an unknown body of water.
Payne attributes the motive behind the attack to a dating relationship between Hernandez’s deceased grandfather and Stukey.
“(Jameion thought) that the relationship had ruined his family financially and it was one reason he believe his parents were getting a divorce,” Payne said. “He had hate for Stukey.”
Hernandez is charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty in December and a jury trial is scheduled to begin July 9.