State v. Rhodes

HOLOHAN, Justice.

Jeannie Lou Rhodes was convicted of first degree murder in the death by strangulation of her mother. She was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The State’s theory of the case, based totally on circumstantial evidence, is that the defendant planned and carried out the murder of her mother in a cold and calculated manner. Although no motive was ever determined, the State was able to produce enough circumstantial evidence to convince the jury of the defendant's guilt.

Throughout the investigation of the crime and the trial, the defendant insisted she had nothing to do with the…