Huy reportedly did not have issues at the beginning of their visit, but as the visit dragged on, he began to grow tired and impatient with having them in the house.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on January 26, 2023. It has since been updated.
Trigger Warning: The following article mentions gun violence which some readers may find distressing.
Jesse Huy, 50, of Strafford, was sentenced to three life sentences on January 13, 2022, without the possibility of parole for murder and nine years in prison for armed criminal action. The southwest Missouri man was sentenced in connection with the shooting and killing of his wife and her parents, Tonya F. Huy, 48, Ronald L. Koehler, 71, and Linda J. Koehler, 78 because he was furious that his in-laws refused to leave their home, per PEOPLE.
According to investigators, the Koehlers were in town in March 2021 to help in caregiving for their daughter who was recovering from back surgery. Huy reportedly did not have issues at the beginning of their visit, but the visit dragged on, and Huy began to grow tired and impatient with having them in the house.
"I felt intruded on; I felt disrespected," Jesse Huy allegedly told 911. "I went outside, got my gun, and shot all three victims in under a minute.https://t.co/1TIdhSCQvb
— WSYX ABC 6 (@wsyx6) January 17, 2023
“Her mom moved in on me and Ronald would just come and show up at the house whenever,” Huy told investigators, according to the arrest report, per WAFB. “I felt intruded on, I felt disrespected, you know. I pay the f***ing bill on that place so that gives me some say,” Huy said. “Linda burrowed in like a tick and made it obvious she wasn’t going anywhere and she knew I wasn’t happy about it.”
He also shared that he shot his wife because she supported her parents. “My wife said they’re not going anywhere. I’m half owner of this place, they can stay here as long as they want to,” Huy told investigators. He then added that it annoyed him, “So I went outside. I got my gun. I walked back in. I shot them all in the head. Then I shot them all in the head again to make sure they were down.”
"I went outside, got my gun, and shot all three victims in under a minute." According to court filings, Huy himself called Greene County officials in March 2021 and reported that he had killed the victims, all of whom lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by shooting them in the head while they sat at a table inside his home. When asked why he did it, Huy said “well, they wouldn’t leave. I’ve been waiting for a week for them to leave. I’ve had enough.”
Huy was scheduled to go on trial in October. He amended his plea to guilty just before the opening arguments. He pleaded guilty to the murders of all three persons involved. On Friday, a court imposed the harshest possible sentence. Huy will be sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of release. He was remanded in custody until his final sentencing. Huy's attorneys have stated that they will not appeal his conviction
Teresa Williamson, a family member, read an impact statement, per KY3 that included the following, “I will miss Linda and Ron’s Willingness to always be there for all of us. That’s what there were doing with Tonya when this arrogant monster made the decision to take their lives.”
References:
https://www.wafb.com/2021/03/22/baton-rouge-couple-daughter-murdered-by-daughters-spouse-missouri/
https://people.com/crime/missouri-man-killed-wife-in-laws-because-they-wouldnt-leave-home/
https://www.ky3.com/2023/01/13/judge-sentences-strafford-mo-man-killing-wife-in-laws/
Cover Image Source: GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI JAIL