In the early morning hours of February 4, 2021, a tragic event unfolded in the Dutchtown neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, claiming the life of 8-year-old Journee Hemphill. Police were summoned to a residence in the 4100 block of South Grand Boulevard around 7:00 a.m. following a call about shots fired. Upon entering the home, officers discovered a harrowing scene where Journee, along with her 30-year-old mother, Kanisha Hemphill, and her 1-year-old sister, Ja'Kari Hemphill, had all
sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect, Ronald S. Marr, who was Kanisha Hemphill's ex-boyfriend and the father of the youngest victim. In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities determined that Marr had discarded his cell phone and purchased a new one before fleeing the state on a Greyhound bus. A multi-state manhunt ensued, leading to his capture by U.S. Marshals in Effingham, Illinois, approximately 100 miles away from the crime scene. He was subsequently extradited back to Missouri to face charges.
The legal proceedings culminated in February 2024, three years after the triple homicide. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Marr had targeted the family in their home. The jury found him guilty on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of armed criminal action. Following the conviction, Marr was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life for the murders of Journee, her sister, and her mother.
