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Jun 20, 2010 · Collecting his morning paper, a neighbor noticed what appeared to be blood on the landing outside Hugues' apartment and called 911, triggering an investigation that is still at the center of an ...
- Michael Politte, Missouri man convicted as a teen of ...
Michael Politte was charged with killing his mother when he...
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Michael Jones, a wealth manager for a major bank, fooled...
- Michael Politte, Missouri man convicted as a teen of ...
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- Overview
- A MURDER IN HOPEWELL
- "I DIDN'T MURDER MY MOTHER"
- "PROBLEMATIC" EVIDENCE?
- KEY WITNESS SPEAKS OUT
- A SECOND CHANCE
This story originally aired on Nov. 26, 2022. It was updated on July 8, 2023.
Michael Politte was just 14 years old when he was charged in 1998 with murdering his mother, Rita Politte, who died after being hit in the head and set on fire in her Missouri home. More than three years after the crime, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder, though he maintained he was innocent. He spent nearly 20 years in prison before a new law passed in Missouri that made him eligible for parole. Now out on parole, Michael Politte tells "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty who he believes is responsible for the murder.
Michael Politte: There's nothin' in this world that anybody can ever do to me that's gonna be worse than what I seen.
On Dec. 5, 1998, Michael Politte says he woke up to find his mother's body lying on her bedroom floor — on fire.
He was 14 years old.
Michael Politte: What I seen was hatred and evil. … The individual that did that to my mother hated her with everything inside of 'em.
Rita Politte was just 40 when she died. All these years later, Michael's older sisters, Chrystal and Melonie, still have vivid memories.
Erin Moriarty (looking at photo album): What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Rita?
Erin Moriarty (looking at photo album): He looks like a really happy kid.
Melonie Politte: He was always really happy.
When Melonie and Chrystal learned that their 14-year-old brother had been arrested for their mother's murder, they say they couldn't believe it.
Melonie Politte: How were they coming up with that conclusion? … I just thought they were crazy.
Chuck and Patsy Skiles are Michael's uncle and aunt. They live next door to where the crime took place. They also felt police had made a mistake.
Chuck Skiles: He didn't do it and I want him cleared.
After Michael Politte was convicted and sentenced to life at the age of 18, he was sent to the Missouri State Penitentiary — once called "the bloodiest 47 acres in America."
Michael Politte: Bein' so young, I was a target. … I got in a fight my first day there … Dudes were trying to rape me.
Michael says he became desperate for some sense of safety.
Erin Moriarty: You became a skinhead?
Michael Politte: Yeah. Joined a gang.
Erin Moriarty: That's where you got the tattoos?
Josh SanSoucie: I've done pretty good just movin' on with it. But, I mean, it's still — it's always there, you know?
Josh SanSoucie is now 39 years old. He says he's never been quite the same since he woke up from that sleepover at Michael's at the age of 15 and found himself in the middle of a murder investigation. He says he was questioned by police repeatedly for hours at a time.
Josh SanSoucie: Every time I'd tell 'em something, they would be like, "No, that's not what happened. This is what happened." … I remember tellin' my mom. I said, "They keep saying that I'm lying." I said, "I don't even know if I'm telling the truth anymore."
But the truth, Josh says, is that nothing out of the ordinary happened on that night in question.
Josh SanSoucie: It was just like a normal night.
But what about that videotaped statement where Josh told police that he woke up in the middle of the night and Michael wasn't there?
Tricia Bushnell: It's hard — it's real hard here in Missouri — to get these convictions overturned, it's a battle.
Michael Politte's legal team was shut down by appeals courts at every turn.
Melonie Politte (crying): It is a constant fight with, you know, Goliath really is what it feels like.
Despite the letdowns, Michael and his sisters kept up hope that one day he would be freed. And in 2021, there was an unexpected development: a bill passed in Missouri giving juvenile offenders convicted of serious crimes a second chance.
Michael Politte: It gave me an immediate parole hearing.
Michael went before the parole board asking for his release.
- 42 min
- Stephanie Slifer,Emily Wichick,Sara Ely Hulse is the development producer,Doreen Schechter,Joan Adelman,Gary Winter are the editors,Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer,Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor,Judy Tygard is the executive producer
Mar 21, 2023 · A Mind for Murder | Full Episode. Does a beloved professor have a mind for murder? "48 Hours Mystery" correspondent Richard Schlesinger reports. Watch more full episodes of "48 Hours" on...
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Apr 14, 2024 · Michael Jones, a wealth manager for a major bank, fooled many people about who he really was in the months before he killed Diana Duve.
