JENNIFER MEE

Compassion and Reform

 A word from Jennifer  
      “I have been working on my GED & taking all kinds of classes to better myself. When I’m released I want to be a counselor to the youth. I want to share my testimony & give back to the community. I am truly sorry for any family who has experienced a loved ones death due to foul acts of greed and inconsiderance. I feel it was a lesson learnt on my behalf. Anyone who knows me knows I love people. I would never want anyone to get hurt, no matter what the situation”  

We are campaigning for a just and humane sentence suited to the role Jennifer Mee played in a crime where a young man’s life was lost. We absolutely believe the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole is an extreme sentence for the minor part Jennifer played in the crime. We are looking for a fairer sentence that reflects what a misguided ‘lost’ girl at the time should have received, understanding alongside punishment. We feel in this case a mandatory sentence does not do anything but punish with no allowance for her to show remorse or to change from the girl she was then to the woman she is today

Jennifer Mee was convicted of felony first-degree murder in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Although not at the scene at the time, under Florida felony law Jennifer is sentenced the same as the person who committed the crime.

Jennifer Ann Mee was born in July 1991 in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA, the eldest of 5 sisters (a number to her step Father). At an early age Jennifer’s parents parted, an experience that was to have a lasting effect on her. Jennifer took the separation hard, creating deep set issues with abandonment and created insecurities that were to last. Jennifer’s Mother worked long hours to support the family and Jennifer had difficulty adjusting to the new family situation.

Jennifer later went through the trauma of being raped and molested, something Jennifer never shared with her family and held to herself for many years. It was an experience that ingrained in Jennifer the feelings she already held about herself, her lack of worth, that she was alone in this world

At this point Jennifer’s self-esteem reached rock bottom and was to stay with her for many years. Jennifer started to seek attention from men in all the wrong ways just to feel loved, wanted and a male figure to feel secure. With that she got involved with drug dealers and from them learnt how to sell drugs. She was living in the fast lane. Eventually Jennifer started to use drugs and had sex for money to pay for her lifestyle.

Fast forward some years Jennifer started to get the hiccups and got all the attention she desperately craved as she became famous as the ‘hiccup girl’ in early 2007. Along with deep pains in her chest she started hiccupping relentlessly over 3 weeks. There are many possible causes for the hiccups (Tourette’s syndrome, depression but most likely a subconscious desire to be wanted) but no cure was found. She became more depressed and at one point contemplated suicide. After looking for help with remedies on social media she became a viral sensation. A newspaper picked up the story and Jennifer had her “15 minutes of fame”. This attention fed into Jennifer’s insecurities and made her feel wanted and (momentarily) important. After a hectic 5 weeks Jennifer’s hiccups passed and with it her fame.

It was believed that Jennifer went straight out after her ‘fame’ had passed and started committing crimes. Jennifer’s huge deep rooted insecurities did came to the fore again now she was (as she saw it) a nobody again. With that she found relief with the same circle of ‘friends’ and began dating an aspiring rapper Lamont Newton. Yet Jennifer insists to this day she never went back to committing crimes. Up until that night Jennifer had never been in serious contact with the authorities and did not have any criminal record.

On the evening of October 23rd 2010 Jennifer arranged for Shannon Griffin to buy weed from Newton and another friend Laron Raiford. Newton and Raiford decided to rob him instead. Shannon fought back and was shot a number of times. Jennifer was not involved in the drug deal except for the setting up and was not at the scene at the time, being on the road as look out. When she heard shots she was terrified and ran away.

All 3 were arrested the following day.

Jennifer pleaded not guilty and turned down the option of a plea bargain. Naively she believed if she only told the truth she would have a sentence relevant to her part or be found not guilty. In hindsight if Jennifer had made a plea deal she would have the possibility of parole and may have been free now.

On September 20 2013 Jennifer Mee was sentenced to felony murder which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The arrest and trial is all on public record and covered extensively by the media as the hiccup girl gone bad. There are many sources available online if you would like to look further into this.

8th amendment “……nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Jennifer Mee FREE

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