For Immediate Release
July 7, 2017
A Jackson County judge today sentenced James Rhymer, 33, for the murder of David Mendez in November 2014, as well as other violent crime convictions, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
The judge sentenced Rhymer to life in prison for the following convictions: Murder 2nd Degree, Assault 1st Degree and Kidnapping. The judge also sentenced him to 15 years in prison for three counts of Armed Criminal Action. The judge set all sentences to run concurrently.
A Jackson County jury found Rhymer guilty on those six counts in April.
According to court records, witnesses told police Rhymer shot the victim in the area of 12th and Ewing while the victim was in a vehicle. Rhymer then attempted to burn the body and dispose of it in a rural location south of Kansas City. Police later located the burned pickup and the victim's body, and police later took the defendant into custody after he barricaded himself in his Kansas City apartment.
Chief Trial Assistant Michael Hunt prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.