Court Rejects Appeal in 'Jenny Jones Show' Killing
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

January 24, 2002

Detroit:  An appeals court has upheld the conviction of a man who killed his gay secret admirer days after the man came forward during a taping of "The Jenny Jones Show" in 1995.

Jonathan Schmitz went to Scott Amedure's trailer and shot him three days after Amedure, 32, confessed his crush on the show.  The tape was never aired.

Schmitz, who was 24 at the time, said he went on the show expecting a female admirer. 

He was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 and is serving a 25- to 50-year prison sentence.

In his appeal, Schmitz argued that the trial court should have allowed evidence of his history of alcoholism and suicide attempts, which could have resulted in a reduced charge, such as voluntary manslaughter.

The three-judge appeals panel rejected his argument.

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