” The Jenny Jones Murder Scandal ” From Bizarre Buffet Podcast – All You Can Eat Weird
Scott Amedure was shot to death after confessing to his attraction & desire for his then friend, Jonathan Schmitz. The popular talk show known as ” The Jenny Jones Jones Show”, was filming an episode about secret crushes.
The Jenny Jones Murder Scandal
S2E34
Released On June 3rd, 2021
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The Jenny Jones Murder – Filming
On March 6, 1995, Amedure was featured on an episode of The Jenny Jones Show. During this filming, Scott admitted to being a secret admirer of Jonathan Schmitz. Until the taping, Schmitz did not know who would be revealed as his secret admirer. Schmitz stated that he participated in the show due to curiosity, and he claimed later that the producers implied that his admirer was a woman, although the producers of the show claim that they did tell Schmitz that the admirer could be male or female.
During the segment, Amedure was encouraged by Jones to share his fantasies about Schmitz, after which Schmitz was brought onstage. The exchange between the two men was awkward at best, but no one could imagine the tragic ending that would ensue after filming wrapped.
The Aftermath And Murder Of Scott Amedure
According to footage of the murder trial, it was stated later by a friend of Amedure’s that Amedure and Schmitz went out drinking together the night after the taping and an alleged sexual encounter occurred. According to the testimony at the murder trial, three days after the taping, Amedure left a “suggestive” note at Schmitz’s house. After finding the note, Schmitz withdrew money from a bank, purchased a shotgun, and then went to Amedure’s mobile home. He then asked Amedure if he was the one that left the note. According to court documents, Amedure responded with a smile. Schmitz then returned to his car, got his gun, and returned to Amedure’s trailer. He then shot Amedure twice in the chest, killing him. After killing Amedure, Schmitz left the residence, telephoned 9-1-1, and confessed to the killing.
Episode Credits
Original Episode Art By Mark Tauriello
Video Art & Production By Marc Bluestein
The Jenny Jones Murder Scandal – Show Notes
- It was hosted by comedian, actress, singer, Jenny Jones.
- The Jenny Jones Show Ran for 12 seasons from 1991-2003. When the series began, it was a traditional talk show format (very similar to Oprah Winfrey). However, ratings were low the first two seasons.
- By 1993, the show started to turn away from serious subjects, and focus more on unusual subjects like paternity tests, out of control teens (some sent to boot camp), confronting former bullies, makeovers, and secret crushes.
- Her show titles were often sensational and in rhyme like “ you may shake it for money, but leave those clothes at the club honey”. That was from one of her episodes about a makeovers for women in promiscuous jobs, like strippers and call girls.
“Same Sex Crushes “
- Jones used to have episodes about “Secret Crushes”, in which a person would come on the show unbeknownst to them to be confronted by a friend or admirer admitting to having a crush on them.
- On March 6, 1995, Jones taped an episode titled “Same Sex Secret Crushes”. A man named Scott Amedure, came on to the show and admitted he had feelings for a friend, Jonathan Schmitz (24) who lived near him in Lake Orion Michigan.
- Until the taping, Schmitz did not know who would be revealed as his secret crush. Schmitz admitted in participating in the show out of curiosity, and claimed later that producers implied that his crush was a woman, although producers on the show claim they told Schmitz that the admirer could be a male or female.
- During the segment, Amedure was on stage with their mutual friend. Jones encouraged Amedure to share feelings about Schmitz after he came on stage.
- This episode was NEVER aired, however in recent years, it has resurfaced for the Netflix docuseries “ Trial by Media”
- It was obvious he was visibly uncomfortable, but laughed it off.
Three Days Later
- A 911 call was made by Schmitz stating that he shot and killed Amedure.
- Schmitz stated that he was embarrassed on national TV because he wasn’t gay.
- According to the testimony at the murder trial, Amedure left a “suggestive note”, at Schmitz’s house. After finding the note, Schmitz emptied his bank account, purchased a shot gun, and went to Amedure’s trailer. After questioning him about the note, he went back to his car, got the shotgun, and shot Amedure twice in the chest killing him.
- It was stated by a friend in trial that the two of them went out for drinks together the night after the taping and a sexual encounter occured.
- The defense attorney argued schmitz had been diagnosed with Graves’ disease and manic depression and was caused to commit homicide by mental illness and humility by “the gay panic defense”. A legal strategy in which a defendant claimed they acted in a state of violent temporary insanity committing assualt or murder because of unwanted same sex sexual advantages.
- A defendant may allege to have found the same-sex sexual advances so offensive or frightening that they were provoked into reacting, were acting in self-defense.
Jonathan Schmitz Sentencing
Jonathan Schmitz was found guilty of second degree murder in 1996 and sentenced 25-50 years in prison. but his conviction was overturned on appeal. Upon retrial, he was found guilty of the same charge once again and his sentence was reinstated.[9] Schmitz was released from prison on August 22, 2017
The Amedure Family
- In 1999, the Amedure family, retaining Geoffrey Fieger as their lawyer, sued The Jenny Jones Show, Telepictures, and Warner Bros. for the ambush tactics and, as the Amedure family considered it, their negligent actions that resulted in Amedure’s death. In May, the jury awarded the Amedures over 29 million.
- The jury found that The Jenny Jones Show was both irresponsible and negligent, contending that the show intentionally created an unpredictable situation without due concern for the possible consequences.[12] Time Warner‘s defense attorney later claimed the verdict would cause a “chilling effect” on the industry.[13]
Jenny Jones
- The show continued, but eventually was cancelled due to low ratings. Jenny rarely speaks out about the murder. Jones appeared on Dateline in 1999 stating the following:
“The headlines were that they [the producers] ambushed him… If I hear that world ambush one more time I want to just scream because I knew that it wasn’t,” she said.
“He [Schmitz] could have chosen not to appear, he could have told us last minute he didn’t want to do it. He suspected it was a man, that it was Scott, the man who did have the crush, who he later murdered, he suspected that man. And he asked him the night before, he said ‘Scott, is it you?’ and Scott said ‘what if it is?’”
She added: “And Jonathan said: ‘That’s fine, I’m going to go for it, I don’t care what anybody thinks, I’m going to go for it’ was his answer.” She then goes on to say that Schmitz and Amedure chose to take the same flight after appearing on the show and later went out for drinks together.”
Now has her own youtube cooking channel.
Where Is Jonathan Schmitz Now ?
- After 22 years, he was released from prison for “good behavior” in 2017.
- Schmitz now keeps a low profile post his release. There are strict rules that prevent him even from shifting residence for an allocated time. He continues to live with his parents in their family home in Lapeer, Michigan.
- He and his family still get media attention getting pictures taken of them.
