Virginia Hampton has been charged with murder following the tragic death of her cellmate, Jema Schunke, who suffered a fatal beating at Duval County Jail.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Virginia Hampton, aged 58, is now facing a murder charge after she allegedly assaulted her cellmate, Jema Schunke, within the confines of the Duval County Jail.
On Friday, August 15, Jema Schunke, 47, was discovered with severe injuries inside her cell, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Despite being transported to the hospital, Schunke’s condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries a week later.
Initially, Hampton was apprehended on charges of battery shortly after Schunke was hospitalized. However, after the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be homicide due to blunt force trauma, Hampton was rearrested on October 23 and charged with second-degree murder.
The latest arrest report provides a detailed account of the incident, shedding light on Hampton’s alleged motive and the nature of the attack.
According to the report, the altercation occurred around 6:06 p.m. as Schunke was resting on the top bunk they shared. Hampton purportedly climbed up and began striking Schunke repeatedly. The violence intensified as they moved toward the cell bars, with security footage reportedly capturing the moment Schunke fell to the ground while Hampton continued the assault. After the attack, Hampton reportedly covered Schunke with a blanket before returning to her bunk.
The report says Schunke was not found by officers until approximately 45 minutes later during shift change.
During a police interview, JSO says Hampton admitted to the attack, claiming she was taking out her anger about a recent breakup with her boyfriend on Schunke. “She also expressed anger that Schunke had been permitted to shower, while Correctional Officers had become confrontational with her and threatened to use a taser,” wrote the reporting JSO officer.
Hampton reportedly told JSO she viewed the victim as “fragile” and someone she could “bully.”
In the initial report, JSO said Schunke had also been attacked by a separate inmate the night before.
Hampton is currently scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charge on Nov. 13.
