NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Kimberly Kessler was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Thursday in the murder of her hair salon co-worker, Joleen Cummings.
Kessler watched the proceedings from a separate room after she was wheeled into court shouting loudly and wheeled straight back out Thursday afternoon at the start of her sentencing hearing.
Kessler, who has a history of outbursts during trial, was not present for even one day of her murder trial because she repeatedly shouted false claims about a former member of her defense team being related to Cummings.
She was removed again Thursday to a room where she could watch the proceedings with the option of returning to the courtroom if she chose to.
A relative read victim impact statements from Cummings’ sister. Then Cummings’ mother, Ann Johnson, who followed the case through every step of several years of legal delays, read hers. Cummings’ mother said it was the hardest thing she’s ever had to write.
“When my precious daughter was murdered, part of us died. Our family has struggled to make some sort of semblance of life ever since,” Johnson said, explaining that she was speaking on behalf of Cummings’ three children and her brother, who could not attend the hearing because he’s serving in the military. “We are still waiting for Joleen to walk through that door. But Joleen is never coming home....
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