A Florida man has been convicted of second-degree murder for fatally beating his wife with a metal pipe, allegedly because he believed she had been practicing voodoo on him for years.
Samijo Hemans, 33, was found guilty on Thursday in the 2021 killing of his wife, Catherine Hemans, also 33, according to the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit.
Authorities responded to an apartment on Old Kings Road in Jacksonville on May 20, 2021, after receiving a report of a deceased person. Upon arrival, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office discovered Catherine Hemans dead on the floor with severe head trauma. Her husband remained at the scene and was taken into custody.
After being read his rights, Samijo Hemans told investigators that his wife and their baby had arrived at the apartment about 45 minutes before the attack. As she walked toward the bedroom, he struck her in the back of the head with a metal pipe. The couple struggled over the weapon, but Hemans ultimately regained control and struck her several more times.
According to prosecutors, Hemans admitted there had been no argument at the time of the incident. He claimed he attacked his wife because she had been performing “voodoo” on him for several years and he had reached a breaking point.
He now faces up to life in prison and will be sentenced at a later date.
Catherine Hemans was remembered by loved ones as a dedicated professional and creative spirit. According to her obituary, she had previously worked as an assistant athletic trainer at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.
“Cathy was an avid sports fan and her favorite football team was the Philadelphia Eagles,” the obituary noted. “She was a natural creator who enjoyed researching ideas on Pinterest and crafting thoughtful gifts and portraits for her family and friends. She was always making and creating something with her God-given talent.”