View source for Scott Amedure

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[[File:Scott Amedure.jpg|thumb]]
The '''murder of Scott Amedure''' occurred on March 9, 1995, at his mobile home in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]]. The 32-year-old was killed by 24-year-old Jonathan Schmitz, three days after the men appeared as guests for the taping of an [[Revealing Same Sex Secret Crush|episode]] of the [[tabloid talk show]] ''[[The Jenny Jones Show]]''. Amedure had publicly revealed in the episode that he had a [[Puppy love|crush]] on Schmitz, who claimed that he was straight but flattered by the revelation. On the morning of March 9, Amedure left a sexually suggestive note on Schmitz's apartment doorstep. In response, Schmitz purchased a [[Gauge (firearms)|12-gauge]] [[shotgun]], confronted Amedure at his home, and fired two shots into Amedure's chest. Schmitz called [[9-1-1|911]] to report the killing and he was subsequently arrested.

Schmitz was charged with [[Murder in United States law|first-degree murder]]. He utilized the [[gay panic defense]], in which he claimed that he killed Amedure over embarrassment about the revelation of a same-sex crush. Schmitz was found guilty of [[second-degree murder]].

The Amedure family sued ''The Jenny Jones Show'' for wrongful death, although the show was ultimately found to not be liable. Amedure and Schmitz's appearance on ''The Jenny Jones Show'' was shelved, although it was later shown to jurors during the civil trial against ''The Jenny Jones Show''.

==Background==
Scott Bernard Amedure was born on January 26, 1963, the youngest of six children to Frank Amedure and Patricia Graves. Aged seventeen, Amedure dropped out of high school to join the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]]. He served in the Air Force for four years before he returned to Michigan. Amedure had a history of substance abuse, for which he entered rehabilitation programs twice.<ref name="people">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0%2C%2C20105369%2C00.html|title=TV's Fatal Attraction|last=Green|first=Michelle|date=March 27, 1995|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|language=en-US|access-date=September 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303111640/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20105369,00.html|archive-date=March 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also experienced difficulties with relationships and he had past instances of domestic violence.<ref name="wapost">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/03/25/the-aftershock-of-shock-tv/583a599d-b6de-461e-bba0-32a7924eb095/|title=The Aftershock of Shock TV|last=Garvey|first=Megan|date=March 25, 1995|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en-US|access-date=January 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171106192753/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/03/25/the-aftershock-of-shock-tv/583a599d-b6de-461e-bba0-32a7924eb095/|archive-date=November 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Amedure worked as a bartender at Club Flamingo, a gay club in [[Pontiac, Michigan]].<ref name="people"/> According to Amedure's neighbor Gayle Clinton, he "was a talk-show junkie."<ref name="wapost"/>

On March 6, 1995, Amedure was a guest on an episode of ''The Jenny Jones Show'' titled "[[Revealing Same Sex Secret Crush]]", in which he admitted to being a [[secret admirer]] of Jonathan Schmitz, who lived near him in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]].  Until the taping, Schmitz did not know who would be revealed as his secret admirer. Schmitz stated that he participated in the show due to curiosity, and he claimed later that the producers implied that his admirer was a woman,<ref name="urlFatal Shooting Follows Surprise on TV Talk Show–New York Times">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2D9163DF931A25750C0A963958260 |title=Fatal Shooting Follows Surprise on TV Talk Show–New York Times |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215031143/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2D9163DF931A25750C0A963958260 |archivedate=2009-02-15 |accessdate=2008-07-08 |work=The New York Times |date=1995-03-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="urlTalk-Show Host, Testifying at Murder Trial, Plays Down Her Role in Program–New York Times">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E1D91E39F932A35752C1A960958260 |title=Talk-Show Host, Testifying at Murder Trial, Plays Down Her Role in Program |newspaper=The New York Times |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214142316/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E1D91E39F932A35752C1A960958260 |archivedate=2009-02-14 |accessdate=2008-07-08 |first=Bill |last=Carter |date=1996-11-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> although the producers of the show claim that they did tell Schmitz that the admirer could be male or female.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3AtwRPu7Ug |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/W3AtwRPu7Ug |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Jenny Jones Trial (Producer testifies)|last=TomEvision|date=17 April 2010|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During the segment, Amedure was encouraged by Jones to share his fantasies about Schmitz, after which Schmitz was brought onstage.  According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'', "[t]he two men exchanged an awkward embrace before the host dropped her bombshell." In response to Amedure's disclosure, Schmitz laughed, then stated that he was "definitely heterosexual".<ref name="WaPo">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/23/a-1995-tv-show-surprised-him-with-his-gay-secret-admirer-this-week-he-leaves-prison/ |title=A 1995 TV show surprised him with his gay secret admirer. This week he leaves prison. |author= Swenson, Kyle|date= 2017-08-23| accessdate=2017-08-23 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

==Murder==
According to footage of the murder trial, it was stated later by a friend of Amedure's that Amedure and Schmitz went out drinking together the night after the taping and an alleged sexual encounter occurred.<ref name="auto" /> According to the testimony at the murder trial, three days after the taping, Amedure left a "suggestive" note at Schmitz's house.<ref name="urlTalk-Show Guest Is Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder–New York Times">{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E5DE113BF930A25752C1A960958260 |title=Talk-Show Guest Is Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder–New York Times |author=Bradsher, Keith |date=1996-11-13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212234217/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E5DE113BF930A25752C1A960958260 |archivedate=2009-02-12 |accessdate=2008-07-08 |work=The New York Times |url-status=dead }}</ref> After finding the note, Schmitz withdrew money from a bank, purchased a [[shotgun]], and then went to Amedure's mobile home. He then asked Amedure if he was the one that left the note. According to court documents, Amedure responded with a smile. Schmitz then returned to his car, got his gun, and returned to Amedure's trailer. He then shot Amedure twice in the chest, killing him. After killing Amedure, Schmitz left the residence, telephoned [[9-1-1]], and confessed to the killing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E1DC153BF934A1575BC0A96F958260|title=Man Convicted Again In Talk Show Murder|date=1999-08-27|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Jennings|first=Marianne M.|title=Business: Its Legal, Ethical and Global Environment|publisher=Thomson West|year=2005|pages=[https://archive.org/details/businessitslegal00jenn/page/388 388]|isbn=0-324-20488-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/businessitslegal00jenn/page/388}}</ref>

==Criminal trial==
At trial, defense attorneys argued that Schmitz, who had been diagnosed with [[manic depression]] (bipolar disorder) and [[Graves' disease]], was caused to commit homicide by mental illness and humiliation, by way of the "[[gay panic defense]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/11/01/jenny-on-the-spot/75fa90fc-0d6f-42bd-85fd-4a917bd4a6c6/|title=Jenny, on the Spot|date=1996-11-01 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> Schmitz was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to 25–50 years in prison, but his conviction was overturned on appeal. Upon retrial, he was found guilty of the same charge once again and his sentence was reinstated.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/15/us/national-news-briefs-25-to-50-year-sentence-in-talk-show-slaying.html|title=25-50 Year Sentence in Talk Show Slaying|date=1999-09-15 | work=The New York Times}}</ref> Schmitz was released from prison on August 22, 2017, after being granted parole.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/08/22/man-who-killed-after-jenny-jones-show-leaves-prison/591941001/|title=Man who killed after Jenny Jones Show leaves prison|date=2017-08-23 | work=Lansing State Journal}}</ref>

==Civil trial==
In 1995, Amedure's family filed a negligence lawsuit against ''The Jenny Jones Show'', [[Telepictures]], and [[Warner Bros.]] Represented by [[Geoffrey Fieger]], Amedure's family alleged that producers of the show "ambushed" Schmitz through the revelation of a same-sex crush and that they should have known the segment would result in violence. In May 1999, the jury awarded the Amedures [[U.S. dollar|$]]29,332,686.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20021022_C226645_64_233O.226645.OPN.COA.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509214123/http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20021022_C226645_64_233O.226645.OPN.COA.PDF|url-status=dead|title=STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS|archive-date=2006-05-09|date=2006-05-09|access-date=2019-08-16}}</ref> [[Time Warner]]'s defense attorney later claimed the verdict would cause a "[[chilling effect]]" on the industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/TV/9905/07/talk.show.slaying.03/|title=Talk show held negligent in guest's killing|date=1999-05-07|publisher=cnn.com|accessdate=2008-12-12}}</ref> However, this judgment was later overturned by the [[Michigan Court of Appeals]] in a 2-to-1 decision.<ref name="urlMichigan Court of Appeals–Court Opinions">{{cite web|url=http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/resources/asp/dssearch.asp?opntype=coa&DateRange=all&begin_date=07%2F01%2F1996&end_date=11%2F04%2F2005&party_name=amedure&judge1=&judge2=&nature_code=not&lcourt=not&Submit1=Search|title=Michigan Court of Appeals–Court Opinions|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211220644/http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/resources/asp/dssearch.asp?opntype=coa&DateRange=all&begin_date=07%2F01%2F1996&end_date=11%2F04%2F2005&party_name=amedure&judge1=&judge2=&nature_code=not&lcourt=not&Submit1=Search|archivedate=2007-12-11|accessdate=2008-07-08|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Michigan Supreme Court]] declined to hear the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/6th/041207p.pdf|title=Gilbert, et al. v. Ferry, et al.|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref> The court held that ''The Jenny Jones Show'' were not liable for Schmitz's subsequent actions, which they deemed "unforeseeable".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-24-fi-jones24-story.html|title='Jenny Jones' Not Liable for Guest's Death|last=James|first=Meg|date=October 24, 2002|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=August 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118190702/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-24-fi-jones24-story.html|archive-date=January 18, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Media coverage ==
The controversy was also covered as the first episode in the Netflix series ''[[Trial by Media (TV series)|Trial by Media]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gajanan |first=Mahita |url=https://time.com/5835199/trial-by-media-netflix-documentary/ |title=What to Know About the Six Sensationalized Court Cases Examined in Netflix's Trial By Media |magazine=Time |date=May 11, 2020}}</ref> In 2021, the controversy was covered in season 6 of the series ''How It Really Happened'' on the US TV network [[HLN (TV network)|HLN]] in an episode titled "The Jenny Jones Show: Fatal Attraction".<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2021/03/01/season-six-of-hlns-longest-running-original-series-how-it-really-happened-with-hill-harper-premieres-sunday-march-14-with-two-hour-investigation-of-missing-utah-mom-susan-powell/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302020106/https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2021/03/01/season-six-of-hlns-longest-running-original-series-how-it-really-happened-with-hill-harper-premieres-sunday-march-14-with-two-hour-investigation-of-missing-utah-mom-susan-powell/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |title=Season Six of HLN's Longest Running Original Series "How It Really Happened with Hill Harper" Premieres Sunday, March 14 with Two-Hour Investigation of Missing Utah Mom Susan Powell |agency=CNN |date=March 1, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2021}}</ref> Also in 2021, the incident and a portion of the unaired ''The Jenny Jones Show'' episode was featured on an episode of [[VICE TV]]'s [[Television documentary|docuseries]] ''[[Dark Side of the 90s]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

==See also==
* [[List of homicides in Michigan]]
* [[Murder of Larry King]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050222090532/http://courtofappeals.mijud.net/documents/OPINIONS/FINAL/COA/20021022_C226645_64_233O.226645.OPN.COA.PDF Court Opinion – Majority Authored Published]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725145817/http://coa.courts.mi.gov/documents/opinions/final/coa/20021022_c226645_65_233d.226645d.opn.coa.pdf Court Opinion – Dissenting]
* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/6th/041207p.pdf Overthrown due to Bias]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120418204806/http://theoaklandpress.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=go&o=0&l=20&s=recent&r=&d1=12-1-2000&d2=today&q=scott+amedure Several articles regarding the Appeals Court Ruling from The Oakland Press]
* [http://equalitymi.org/ Equality Michigan – LGBT Rights Organization]
* {{Find a Grave|3051|Scott Amedure}}
* [http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=253222 Jonathan Schmitz at the Michigan Dept. of Corrections]

{{Portal bar|Michigan|Law|1990s|LGBTQ}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amedure, Scott}}
[[Category:1995 in LGBTQ history]]
[[Category:1995 in Michigan]]
[[Category:1995 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:American murder victims]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Michigan]]
[[Category:LGBTQ history in Michigan]]
[[Category:March 1995 crimes in the United States]]
[[Category:People murdered in Michigan]]
[[Category:Violence against gay men in the United States]]