In the quiet of a St. Louis morning on February 4, 2021, a tragedy unfolded that would claim the lives of three people, including one-year-old JaKari “ReRe” Hemphill. The young female, along with her 30-year-old mother, Kanisha Hemphill, and her 7-year-old sister, Journee Hemphill, were found shot to death inside their home in the Dutchtown neighborhood.
The gruesome discovery was made by police officers who were responding to a call of 'shots fired' at the residence on the 4100 block of South Grand Boulevard. The scene that confronted the first responders was described by the police chief as both tragic and disturbing.
The investigation into the triple homicide quickly focused on Ronald Marr, who was identified as Kanisha Hemphill's ex-boyfriend and the father of JaKari. Evidence suggested that the murders were an act of domestic violence. In the aftermath of the killings, Marr took steps to conceal his involvement. He discarded his cell phone, purchased a new one, and then bought a Greyhound bus ticket to flee the state of Missouri. His attempt to escape was short-lived, as he was apprehended by law enforcement approximately 100 miles away in Illinois. Police records also revealed that officers had been called to the same address for a domestic disturbance just two days prior to the fatal shooting.
Ronald Marr was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action. In February 2024, a St. Louis jury found the 36-year-old guilty on all charges. The conviction brought a measure of justice for the family of the victims, with the Circuit Attorney stating that the verdict would ensure the 'cold-blooded' killer remained behind bars for the rest of his life. The mandatory punishment for first-degree murder is life in prison without the possibility of parole. His sentencing was scheduled for March 8, 2024.
