Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
ABC 20/20 will chronicle the slaying of U.S. Army Sergeant Tyrone Hassel III because of a twisted love triangle. The upcoming episode titled “Love. Honor. Betray” will air on the network this Friday, February 16, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
On New Year’s Eve 2018, Army Sergeant Tyrone Hassel was on leave when he died after suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was staying at his father’s home in St. Joseph Township, Michigan, with his wife, Kemia Hassel, who was also an active-duty soldier, and their one-year-old son. The incident had occurred in the driveway of Tyrone’s father’s house, per A&E. Kemia was the first to make the 911 call.
A subsequent investigation and a crucial tip revealed a sinister plot involving Tyrone Hassel’s wife and her lover, Jeremy Cuellar. NBC reported that Cuellar, also a soldier, was once stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia with Hassels. There, he met Kemia and eventually plotted Tyrone’s murder with her to claim life insurance money and continue their romantic relationship.
Was U.S. Army Sergeant Tyrone Hassel involved in a love triangle?
According to A&E, on December 31, 2018, Army Sergeant Tyrone Hassel III’s wife, Kemia Hassel, made a distressing 911 call. In the call, Kemia claimed that Tyrone had been fatally shot several times and was unresponsive on the driveway. An autopsy confirmed Tyrone died of multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head that night.
The outlet reported that a tip would reveal a sinister plot and lead authorities to the shooter, Jeremy Cuellar, who gunned down Tyrone. Cuellar and the victim’s wife, Kemia, had reportedly orchestrated the murder plot to continue their romantic relationship. They also wanted to claim the Army’s $400,000 life insurance benefit.
Reportedly, the Hassels and Cuellar were once assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. NBC News stated that Kemia Hassel and Cuellar began plotting while they were deployed in South Korea. Cuellar later claimed that he fell in love with Kemia after starting a romantic relationship, per A&E.
NBC’s report further mentioned that Jeremy Cuellar and Kemia Hassel communicated through Snapchat. They believed it would be difficult for the police to trace them as the app had temporary messages. However, after following a tip, police finally arrested the culprits 11 days after Tyrone’s murder. They both faced first-degree premeditated murder charges in Tyrone Hassel III’s murder. Additionally, Cuellar faced a felony firearm count for pulling the trigger.
Kemia told authorities that she spent months plotting Tyrone’s murder so she could continue her romantic relationship with Cuellar. ABC 57 stated that court documents revealed Kemia had said Cuellar went to Michigan four times between December 19 and December 31, 2018. During that time, the two attempted to plan the murder each time, and all of their discussions happened on Snapchat.
Mlive.com reported that Kemia admitted to a sexual relationship with Cuellar. She also told police about being unhappy in her marriage but that she couldn’t get a divorce as she would not get any life insurance money.
A&E’s report said that Cuellar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a prison sentence of 65 to 90 years. Elsewhere, according to Mlive.com, a jury convicted Kemia of first-degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder in July 2019. Following the conviction, she received a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
Amry Sergeant Tyrone Hassel III’s murder case will air on ABC 20/20’s episode this Friday, February 16, 2024.
