Man guilty of Hermann cop’s murder gets death penalty

UNION, Mo. (KMIZ)

A judge imposed the death penalty Thursday on a man who was found guilty of murdering a Hermann police officer and injuring another in a Casey's gas station

A jury found Kenneth Simpson guilty of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, drug possession and other charges in January. Jurors also recommended a death sentence for Simpson, according to previous reporting.

Judge Craig Hellman sentenced Simpson to death after hearing victim statements, including from Officer Adam Sullentrup, who is still recovering from that night at Casey's. Hellman also heard new evidence in the form of texts, voice messages and video calls from Simpon's time in jail.

One voice recording is Simpson talking to another person about guns. In the recording, he mentioned a specific type of gun and said "That's what I used to kill the cop with," and followed that with, "It'll go through a vest, 'cuz I proved that."

The hearing began at 1 p.m., with the sentence coming down at about 3:30 p.m.

During that time, family and friends of Sullentrup and Sgt. Mason Griffith, who was killed, spoke about how Simpson's actions were intentional and continue to follow them.

One of Sullentrup's aunts said she didn't recognize him when she visited him in the hospital after he was shot. She said her nephew was permanently and catastrophically injured.

Many of Sullentrup's family spoke, and detailed how he had to relearn basic tasks, like how to walk and talk.

In his own testimony, Sullentrup spoke in a whisper with a hoarse voice and told the courtroom he misses his independence and his friend Griffith.

Simpson was accused of shooting and killing Sgt. Mason Griffith and injuring Officer Adam Sullentrup in March 2023. Sullentrup testified at the sentencing hearing.

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