Man Charged in Killing Has Request to See Ailing Mom Denied

ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — A judge has denied a request from an Aberdeen man charged in a fatal stabbing to visit his mother in a Rapid City hospital.

Thirty-three-year-old John Hemminger is accused in the death of 26-year-old Jessica Goebel, who died five days after being stabbed in January.

He's pleaded not guilty to alternate counts of murder, including premeditated murder. Both counts carry the possibility of a death sentence, with a minimum punishment of life in prison. He's to stand trial beginning Jan. 4, 2016.

Hemminger's brother-in-law says Hemminger's mother was in a car accident July 30, and defense attorney Tom Cogley says she could be in "her last days."

The American News reports a judge on Wednesday denied the jail visit request, saying he didn't want to put officers at risk.

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