Depertment of Justice - FBI Wire

Wire Week 1 2008Randy G. Massey, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on January 3, 2008, CHRISTOPHER A. HEMMINGHAUS, age 36, of High Ridge, Missouri, pleaded guilty in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois, to an indictment charging him, in Count 1, with Use of a Facility of Interstate Commerce with the Intent that Murder be Committed, and in Count 2, with Destruction of Evidence. The violation charged in Count 1 took place on March 5, 2007, and the violation charged in Count 2 took place on March 6, 2007, both violations occurring in St. St. Clair County, Illinois. Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.

Court documents establish that in approximately December 2006, CHRISTOPHER A. HEMMINGHAUS, who owned and operated the Washington Park Pawn Shop in Washington Park, Illinois, approached a part-time employee, who later became a confidential witness (CW) for the FBI, about murdering his girlfriend. The CW thereafter contacted the FBI and advised the FBI of HEMMINGHAUS’ intentions to murder the victim. The CW told the FBI that HEMMINGHAUS offered him $600 to commit the murder. HEMMINGHAUS offered to provide a reciprocating saw to the CW to dismember the victim’s body following the murder. The FBI thereafter obtained
recordings of HEMMINGHAUS discussing the murder with the CW as described to the FBI by the CW.

On March 5, 2007, HEMMINGHAUS, with the intention that the murder occur that evening, telephoned the victim and instructed the victim to be at the pawn shop. Before the victim arrived at the pawn shop, HEMMINGHAUS permitted the CW to take coveralls from the pawn shop to wear while dismembering the victim. He told the CW that he was expecting the victim between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., and that he wanted the CW to follow the victim after she left the pawn shop and murder her that night. The victim arrived at the pawn shop at 4:45 as instructed by HEMMINGHAUS. While the victim was at the pawn shop, the CW came to the pawn shop and was provided the reciprocating saw by HEMMINGHAUS. HEMMINGHAUS told the CW that he would stall and prevent the victim from leaving the pawn shop until dark. HEMMINGHAUS told the CW to bring him the victim’s purse, cellular telephone, keys, the jewelry she was wearing, and DVDs she would have with her, to the pawn shop the next day. HEMMINGHAUS indicated he would pay the CW a portion of the $600 he promised to pay for the murder following the receipt of these items.

On March 5, 2007, at approximately 7:15 p.m., the victim left the pawn shop. She was followed from the pawn shop and stopped by investigating agents and thereafter cooperated with the investigation. She provided the FBI with her purse, cellular telephone, car keys, the jewelry she was wearing, and DVD movies the defendant provided her before she left the pawn shop.

On March 6, 2007, the CW met with the defendant at the pawn shop and provided the defendant with the victim’s purse, cellular telephone, keys, jewelry, and the DVD movies. The defendant paid the CW $200 and promised to pay the remaining balance upon further proof that the victim was dead. The defendant specifically asked for the victim’s hand. The defendant indicated that he was going to burn the victim’s belongings in a burn barrel behind the pawn shop.

Shortly thereafter, law enforcement observed the defendant exit the back door of the pawn shop and proceed to a barrel at the back of the building. When law enforcement saw black smoke coming from the barrel, the agents arrested the defendant, extinguished the fire in the burn barrel, and secured the premises until a search warrant was obtained. During the execution of a search warrant later that day, law enforcement officers seized the victim’s keys and the remains of her purse and its contents from the burn barrel.

Count 1 carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, or both, and a term of 3 years’ supervised release to follow incarceration. Count 2 carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of 3 years’ supervised release to follow incarceration.

Information for the indictment was obtained in an investigation conducted by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kit R. Morrissey.