Jeff grew up in Mt. Vernon, South Dakota, a small town where everyone knew each other. The oldest of six children, Jeff was the only boy in the family. He began drinking at the age of 9 years old. Alcohol came to play a significant role in his growing up. He was angry about circumstances in his life, and alcohol served to mask those feelings for the moment.

Jeff was on his own by the age of 15, after having been kicked out of school. His life was out of control. He blamed his father for everything bad that happened in his life. This caused many problems with the authorities including the police. He got involved with the wrong crowd and started getting high. After awhile, his antics ended him up in the Plankinton Training School due to stealing.

At age 18, Jeff's mother died suddenly and he felt as if his world had ended. He felt his mother was the only person that really cared about him, and now she was gone. Shortly after that he was run over by a tractor, and ended up on the hospital. After being sent home to recuperate, he decided maybe the Marines could help him, so he joined.

Unfortunately, his drinking followed him there and after a few months he ended up with a 2 1/2 year sentence for taking a joy ride in someone else's car and did time in a North Carolina prison.

After he was released, he married and had two children. His drinking and drug habits eventually cost him his family. He did some more time in prison, this time in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for burglary.

After his release this time, he hitchhiked around the country, doing odd jobs to earn his keep. He began his "travels" in Washington state and then traveled south through California, where he lived on the streets. Then on to Dallas, to New Orleans, to Florida, and finally back to South Dakota.

Jeff tried treatment several times for his alcoholism, but he was not ready to give up his anger and still blamed everyone else for his problems. When he was 26 years old, his so-called friends set him up on a murder charge, where he now serving a life sentence. It wasn't until he ended up behind bars for life that he began to know what true freedom meant. Read the rest of the story:

The synopsis tells the facts of the events leading up to the murder, Jeff's arrest, the investigation, and trial, as well as the investigation following his conviction.

Jeff's story [Introduction] [Jeff's Background] [Case Synopsis 1981 - 2001]
Jeff and Judee's Story [Jeff & Judee] [Wedding] [Our Hope]
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The Story of the Yellow Ribbon