In the quiet expanse near Perry Lake, a grim discovery on March 14, 2018, brought an end to the life of 22-year-old Taylor Sawyer, a White male from the Topeka, Kansas area. His body was found in a remote parking area for walking trails, bearing multiple gunshot wounds. The tragic event set in motion a multi-agency investigation that would unravel a story of domestic turmoil and violence.
The initial break in the case came when Ashlyn N. Hemmerling, 18, and her mother, Sarah M.
Hemmerling, contacted law enforcement. Ashlyn claimed to have witnessed a murder at Perry Lake the previous night. However, as investigators delved deeper, her story began to unravel, shifting her from a witness to a primary suspect. It was revealed that her mother, Sarah, was in a relationship with the victim, Taylor Sawyer.
The investigation led to the arrest of Ashlyn Hemmerling and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Jonathan D. Blevins of Topeka. Authorities concluded that Blevins was the one who pulled the trigger, but that Ashlyn had helped orchestrate the homicide. The motive was believed to stem from a domestic dispute, with drug use also being a potential factor. Sarah Hemmerling was also arrested and charged with obstruction for attempting to help her daughter concoct a false story to mislead investigators.
Jonathan Blevins was arrested at the Lawrence smoke shop where he worked. During a search of his residence, investigators found clothing with Sawyer's blood on it and ammunition matching the type used in the murder. Blevins' trial for the premeditated first-degree murder of Taylor Sawyer concluded with a guilty verdict. He was handed a "hard 50" sentence, meaning he will serve life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years. His subsequent appeal of the conviction was denied. Ashlyn Hemmerling eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for her role in the killing and was also sentenced to life in prison.
