Dale Helmig set free

AP Dale Helmig, right, talks with his brother, Richard Helmig, before leaving court in Maysville on Monday. Photo by The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

MAYSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A 54-year-old former house painter whose murder conviction in the 1993 killing of his mother was overturned last month walked out of a northwest Missouri courthouse Monday free on bond pending the state’s appeal of the reversal.

Dale Helmig had entered the DeKalb County Courthouse in the shackles and orange jumpsuit he wore for the trip from from the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron. He changed into street clothes before the hearing and beamed as he spoke to reporters outside after being released on $5,000 bond.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” Helmig said. “It feels great. I always knew I’d walk out a free man.”

The first-degree murder charge remains in place because the state has said it plans to appeal the reversal of the verdict.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has not taken a position on Helmig’s guilt but has said it’s appropriate for an appellate court to review whether the judge acted within his jurisdiction in tossing out the conviction.

On Monday, Koster issued a statement saying the $5,000 bond recommended earlier Monday by an appeals court was nearly unprecedented in a first-degree murder case.

Helmig began serving a life sentence in 1996 after being found guilty of murdering his mother, Norma Helmig. Her body was found tied to a concrete block in a flood-swollen river in central Missouri’s Osage County.

His bond was set Monday by DeKalb County Senior Judge Warren McElwain, the same judge who cited prosecutorial zeal, false evidence and poor representation in overturning the conviction. McElwain called the case a “miscarriage of justice.”

McElwain, who serves in the northwest Missouri county where Helmig is imprisoned, suggested in his November ruling that Norma Helmig’s husband, Ted Helmig, was a more likely suspect than Dale Helmig. Ted Helmig and his wife were going through a bitter divorce at the time.

Their rift included an incident at a Jefferson City diner where Ted Helmig threw a drink at his wife — a dispute wrongly blamed on Dale Helmig at his murder trial.

New testimony presented earlier this year showed that Norma Helmig’s purse — which washed up along the Missouri River six months after her body was found — included several personal checks canceled by her bank 10 days after her disappearance.

That scenario refutes the prosecution’s account that Dale Helmig threw her purse out of his car window while driving back to a Fulton motel the night his mother went missing. Ted Helmig has consistently denied killing his wife.

More like this story

2warped757 2 years, 5 months ago

So happy for Dale, his family, and his friends that he is freed in time for the holidays. Will keep praying that our courts/justice system do right by him this time.

TheRickster 2 years, 5 months ago

I have but one question,,where was all this effort in the real court case? It shocks me to think the family and all else sat on their hands while this trial was going on. These days I find myself becoming more trusting in God so whatever mistakes are made that they all happen for a reason.

lancelegendary2010 2 years, 5 months ago

im currently dating the daughter of dale helmig and we have a daughter together and im glad that my little girl gets to see her grandpa for christmas...this will be the best christmas ever!!!

TheRickster 2 years, 5 months ago

Happy to see that,,but my question still stands! You also didn't make any remarks about him doing it or not. Happy he got out of a murder conviction is one thing but he will still be tried again. There are alot of baby-daddies incarcerated that ain't coming home.

nunyabidness 2 years, 5 months ago

Congratulations, Lance and family. The law says that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and it doesn't look like that was the case here, at least not in light of the new developments. Being locked up for something you didn't do...especially as horrendous as this crime was...I can't imagine. I hope your family has a Merry Christmas.

gofish 2 years, 5 months ago

Lot's of bad things happen in this life that are neither mistakes or things that happen for a "reason". Consider that man has free will. In this case a prosecutor with a reputation for unethical legal practices railroaded a man into prison for a crime he is innocent of. There was no reason....except that of a psychopathic prosecutor.

gzc721 2 years, 5 months ago

Just curious do you EVER agree with anyone?? Or do you just reply to stir up trouble!

TheRickster 2 years, 5 months ago

Graceful,, maybe WAS is the key word. The prosecutor has had more than 4 major trials overturned due to some very shady if not criminal actions. One big issue is the State Hwy. Patrol Man that has recounted his stories in several cases. Being coached is no new plow at trial,,but for a Patrolman lieing for the prosecutor makes me wonder about plots and promises made. For the record Graceful, you sure aren't very subtle. It seems you just comment against the normal folks trying to get a rise. Childish to say the least. One last thing,,if I didn't commit the crime,,I would never sign a statement saying I did it!! Even with no sleep, and hours of questioning!

wcywing 2 years, 5 months ago

you can be surprised on what innocent people do under duress, or under stressful conditions, however that is what the 5th ammendment is for. i will never talk to the police under any circumstances. a law professor explains why, view it on youtube. just type in don't talk to the police in the search box. a Supreme Court Judge had said "any lawyer worth his salt will tell the suspect in no uncertain terms to make no statement to police under any circumstances." Robert H. Jackson

editor, you need to fix the filter, do you know how many words begin with H and end with P?

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