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Virginia Hampton is now facing a murder accusation linked to the tragic death of her fellow inmate, Jema Schunke, who died after a brutal assault in the Duval County jail.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At 58 years old, Virginia Hampton stands accused of murdering her cellmate following a violent altercation within the Duval County detention facility.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Jema Schunke was discovered with severe injuries in her cell on Friday, August 15. Despite receiving medical attention, Schunke’s condition deteriorated, and she succumbed to her injuries a week later.
Initially arrested for battery soon after Schunke’s hospitalization, Hampton was taken into custody again on October 23, facing charges of second-degree murder. This development followed a medical examiner’s determination that Schunke’s death resulted from homicide, attributed to blunt force trauma.
The latest arrest documentation sheds light on the details of the assault and offers insight into Hampton’s alleged motives for the attack.
The report states Schunke had been on the top bunk of the bed, which the two inmates shared, at around 6:06 p.m. that evening. That’s when Hampton climbed up to Schunke’s bunk and began punching her, according to the report. The attack continued as they moved toward the bars of the cell, where JSO said video captured Schunke falling to the floor as Hampton continued attacking. After, Hampton covered Schunke with a blanket and went back to her bunk.
The report says Schunke was not found by officers until approximately 45 minutes later during shift change.
During a police interview, JSO says Hampton admitted to the attack, claiming she was taking out her anger about a recent breakup with her boyfriend on Schunke. “She also expressed anger that Schunke had been permitted to shower, while Correctional Officers had become confrontational with her and threatened to use a taser,” wrote the reporting JSO officer.
Hampton reportedly told JSO she viewed the victim as “fragile” and someone she could “bully.”
In the initial report, JSO said Schunke had also been attacked by a separate inmate the night before.
Hampton is currently scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charge on Nov. 13.
