The Bad Samaritan: The Murder of Sherrice Iverson

The Bad Samaritan: The Murder of Sherrice Iverson

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Primm sits right along the Nevada-California boundary. Most of the people who live in Primm work at its three casinos, but visitors from Southern California see it as a first or last stop on the way to Las Vegas, a gateway to fun.

Sherrice Iverson was born on October 20, 1989. Her mother, Yolanda Manuel, earned a living at a school cafeteria. Sherrice?s family also included her father, Leroy, and an older half-brother.

On May 25, 1997, Sherrice, her brother, and her father were all at the Primadonna Resort and Casino in Primm. Unfortunately, they were also at the casino at the same time as Jeremy Strohmeyer, 18, and David Cash, Jr., 17, who had come from Long Beach.

The End of a Short Life

Early that morning, at approximately 4 a.m., Jeremy had what is described in newspapers ?playful? contact with Sherrice. She?d been roaming the casino arcade with her brother while her father gambled. Security guards had returned her to her father several times, but she was still free to roam. The story goes that Sherrice had been throwing wet paper towels at Jeremy, and he was doing the same in response.

The play escalated, and Jeremy followed Sherrice into the bathroom twice. On the second occasion, they continued throwing paper towels. Sherrice picked up the ?Wet Floor? sign and hit Jeremy with it. Jeremy, suddenly enraged, grabbed Sherrice and pushed her into a bathroom stall.

David had followed the two into the bathroom and watched Jeremy shove the defenseless child into the stall. He went into the neighboring stall and stood on the toilet for a closer look. David watched Jeremy assault Sherrice for two minutes, apparently knocked Jeremy?s hat off his head, and left.

David didn?t say a word to anybody. He didn?t tell security a child was being murdered in the bathroom. He didn?t call the cops to report that a 7-year-old was being assaulted by his friend. Instead, he went for a walk.

About 20 minutes later, Jeremy emerged from the bathroom. He told David that he?d assaulted and killed the little girl. According to testimony admitted to the grand jury and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, David simply asked if the little girl had been aroused.

About three days after Sherrice?s murder, Jeremy was taken into custody. Two classmates had identified him through security tape footage that played on the news. Jeremy was feeling the pressure. He allegedly took 37 Dexedrine pills he typically took for attention deficit disorder. He was taken to the hospital and eventually gave a complete confession.

The Fate of Jeremy Strohmeyer

Jeremy was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and sexual assault of a minor. He admitted to leaving her on the toilet seat, dead.

Later, Jeremy?s attorneys, who included one of the attorneys who defended the Menendez Brothers, tried to have confession suppressed because he had not been given legal counsel at that time. Police officers claimed he?d waived that right.

The trial was set for September 1998, and discussion emerged that Jeremy had been drunk at the time and didn?t remember the incident. It became public that Jeremy was adopted and his biological father was in prison. His biological mother had been in mental health facilities throughout her life.

Essentially, Jeremy was facing the death penalty if he went to trial. At the last minute, Jeremy made a deal and pleaded guilty to all four charges. He was sentenced to four life terms on October 14, 1998 with no possibility of parole.

In his final statement, Jeremy expressed despair and remorse. He described the incident but claimed he blacked out at some point in the bathroom. In his statement, he spoke about his adoption and genetic links to addiction and mental illness he had no idea he would be susceptible to.

In October of 1999, Jeremy?s adoptive parents sued Los Angeles County and adoption workers, claiming they had withheld information about Jeremy that may have prevented them from adopting him when he was a child. News articles report that they continue to support their son throughout his incarceration.

In spite of Jeremy?s admission of guilt, he has appealed his conviction multiple times. In 2000, he appealed and recanted his confession, citing bad counsel. Rejected. In 2001, the Nevada Supreme Court saw his case. Rejected. In 2006, the federal court rejected a review of his case. In 2018, he apparently requested parole. It was denied.

The Fate of David Cash

Now that you know what happened to Jeremy, you might be wondering about his friend and witness to the incident, David Cash.

David was never prosecuted for any crime. It was not illegal in Nevada to witness a crime and fail to report it.

David claimed in several interviews that he did not dwell on Sherrice?s death and doesn?t think he has anything to feel bad about. In one interview, he said, ?I?m not going to get upset over somebody else?s life. I just worry about myself first. I?m not going to lose sleep over somebody else?s problems.? David also made comments about how being in the newspaper and being interviewed helped him ?score with women.? He didn?t believe he?d done a single thing wrong.

David had been admitted to UC Berkeley just a few months before Sherrice was killed. When he started school, he found a campaign of students doing their best to get him kicked out. The campaign was not successful. In December 2001, David graduated with a bachelor?s degree in nuclear engineering.

David Cash was in the bathroom for a full two minutes. He was one of two people with the power to do something about Sherrice?s assault and murder. And he chose to do nothing.

The Lasting Impact of Sherrice Iverson?s Life

Sherrice did not die in vain. In 2000, Nevada passed the State Assembly Bill 267, also known as the Sherrice Iverson Bill. The bill requires people to report to authorities when they have reasonable suspicion that a minor is being abused.

California also passed the Sherrice Iverson Child Victim Protection Act, which requires people to notify law enforcement if they witness rape, murder, or a lewd and lascivious act on a child.

Of course, Sherrice?s family is left without a daughter, no matter who faced charges. She once said, ?David Cash shouldn?t be able to get on with his life like nothing ever happened. I sure can?t.?

Sherrice was buried in Inglewood. While her life was short, it made an impact. It made waves. The laws passed in her name have power.

Sources:

The Michigan Daily Online

By Courtney Roberston On May 25, 1997, according to The Los Angeles Times, David Cash peered into a stall in a Nevada?

web.archive.org

In Strohmeyer case, ‘bad Samaritan’ David Cash led to new law

While little Sherrice Iverson’s death 20 years ago was heinous, and Jeremy Strohmeyer’s confession was chilling, a?

www.reviewjournal.com

The Bad Samaritan

He was just an innocent bystander, he says. A bystander who peered over the top of a toilet stall and discovered–in?

content.time.com

Mother Rages Against Indifference

Yolanda Manuel, 28-year-old South Central Los Angeles resident is on crusade to make it crime for anyone who witnesses?

www.nytimes.com

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