Las Vegas woman convicted of murder denied pardon for medical reasons

CARSON CITY — A Las Vegas woman who killed her aunt's boyfriend in 2002, claiming he was abusive, was denied a pardon Monday that was sought because of her severe medical condition.

Jamie Hein was convicted in 2007 of second-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old Timothy Herman and was sentenced to a term of 10 to 25 years for the crime. She is eligible for parole in 2017.

Hein's attorney, Kristina Wildeveld of Las Vegas, said the cost of treating Hein's genetically inherited medical condition called angioedema is costing more than $400,000 a year and will likely only become more costly to Nevada taxpayers. The condition involves the rapid swelling of deep layers of the skin such as the intestines and can be fatal if it happens in the larynx.

Treating Hein's illness cost the state $533,000 in 2015 and $525,000 in 2014, the board was told by interim Corrections Director E.K. McDaniel.

Wildeveld said Hein also suffered two outbreaks at the Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center in Las Vegas in the past few years that could have caused her death because her medicine was not immediately available.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, a member of the board, was told that the correctional center has a new treatment plan to ensure Hein gets her medication, a shot twice a week, without interruption.

The Pardons Board, after hearing the Clark County District Attorney's office oppose Hein's request for compassionate release, voted 6-3 not to commute her sentence to time served. The board includes Attorney General Adam Laxalt and the seven members of the Supreme Court.

Three justices, Mark Gibbons, Michael Cherry and James Hardesty, opposed the motion.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc Di Giacomo told the board that while Hein's medical condition is potentially severe, she's unlikely to die at any moment.

He said Hein tried for years to avoid responsibility for the crime, and it took five years to get the case to trial.

"There is no responsibility coming from that table," he said of the desk where Hein sat with her attorney in the Supreme Court chambers.

The board also heard from Kristine Herman, a daughter of Timothy Herman who flew to the hearing from Florida, who said Hein has showed selfishness rather than remorse for the crime.

The nine years Hein has served is not enough for what Herman called her father's "planned" murder.

Hein has expressed remorse for stabbing Herman to death in the house where he lived with Rebecca Garrison, Hein's aunt.

The environment at the residence was described as dysfunctional, with the couple using illegal drugs, according to court records. Hein also abused drugs and alcohol. Herman, a felon addicted to methamphetamine, had been charged with domestic violence against Garrison.

The motive for the attack was disputed at the hearing, with members of the Herman family claiming Hein plotted with others to kill Herman and hadn't acted in self-defense as she claimed.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801