Ep 8. Kemia Hassel and Jeremy Cuellar

Kemia Hassel and Jeremy Cuellar were a seemingly happy couple, married for just over a year and living on an army base in Michigan. But their marriage was far from perfect, as both had a history of infidelity and trust issues. In October of 2017, Kemia began texting a man she met online and confided in him that she wanted to kill her husband. The man contacted the authorities and Kemia was questioned, but denied any violent intent.

However, just a few weeks later, Jeremy was found dead in his home from carbon monoxide poisoning. Kemia initially told investigators that it was a suicide, but inconsistencies in her story led them to suspect foul play. It was soon revealed that Kemia had convinced Jeremy to help her stage his death as a suicide, promising him a life insurance payout. Jeremy, who was also in debt, agreed to the plan.

But Kemia's plan didn't go as smoothly as she had hoped. She had purchased a canister of carbon monoxide and a helium tank, which she planned to use to poison and suffocate her husband. However, when the carbon monoxide didn't work, she panicked and called Jeremy to come home early from work. He arrived to find her attempting to suffocate him with a plastic bag. She then forced him to drink a lethal dose of sleeping pills and helium, before staging the scene as a suicide.

The investigation into Jeremy's death led to Kemia's arrest, along with her co-conspirator and lover, who had helped her plan the murder. Both were charged and convicted of Jeremy's murder, with Kemia receiving life in prison without parole and her accomplice receiving 65 years.

The episode delves into the complex relationship between Kemia and Jeremy, including their history of infidelity and trust issues. It also explores Kemia's emotional and mental state leading up to the murder, including her struggles with her own sexuality and identity. The episode includes interviews with law enforcement officials, friends and family members of the victim and the defendants, as well as expert analysis on the motives and psychological factors that led to the crime. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dark and deadly consequences that can arise from jealousy, deception, and desperation.