The second suspect in the killing of a U.S. Army sergeant has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Jeremy Cuellar on Monday admitted to being a co-conspirator with Kemia Hassel in the New Year’s Eve 2018 murder of Sgt. Tyrone Hassel III in St. Joseph Township. The 23-year-old Hassel was shot and killed in an ambush while visiting his family while on leave.
On July 18, a jury found Kemia Hassel guilty of first-degree premeditated murder in her husband’s death. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29. She and Cuellar, both soldiers themselves, reportedly were lovers and plotted the murder to collect Army death benefits and life insurance money. All three were soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The 24-year-old Cuellar faces a minimum of 65 years in prison and could be sentenced up to life in prison for second-degree murder.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
