A Michigan man who shot and killed a gay man after he confessed he his secret crush on a TV talk show is scheduled to be released from prison on August 21.
Jonathan Schmitz, pictured center and far right, will walk out of prison next week after serving 21 years for killing his co-worker Scott Amedure, 32, pictured left.
The two men were casual acquaintances. Schmitz, who was not gay, was aware that his co-worker was openly gay.
Jenny Jones invited the two men on her show where Amedure confessed he had a crush on Schmitz, then 24. Clips from the episode, which aired on news programs, shows Schmitz laughing and appearing at ease after Amedure’s confession.
Later, Schmitz confronted Amedure outside his trailer and shot him to death. He later told police he killed Amedure for embarrassing him on national television. The episode never aired and the Jenny Jones Show was canceled in 2003.
Schmitz turned himself in to police and he was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25-50 years in prison with the possibility of parole.
Schmitz, now 47, was granted parole in March and he is set to be released from a Michigan prison next month.
Amedure’s older brother, Frank Amedure Jr., is “troubled” by Schmitz’s parole.
“I wanted assurance that the (parole board’s) decision was not based on just good behavior in prison,” he said, adding that he didn’t think Schmitz changed in prison.
“I’d like to know that he learned something, that he’s a changed man, is no longer homophobic and has gotten psychological care.”
