Ogden, UT — A woman convicted of smothering her 2-month-old son to death in 2010 is now seeking parole, expressing a desire to reenter society after serving time in prison for nearly 14 years. Jewell Hendricks, 40, appeared before the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole on Tuesday, sharing her journey of personal transformation and the steps she has taken to address her past actions.
Hendricks was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 2011 after being convicted of murder for the death of her infant son, Robert. The incident occurred on January 24, 2010, when Hendricks, overwhelmed by the challenges of caring for her newborn twins, admitted to smothering Robert with a sleeping bag. At the time, she was struggling with severe postpartum depression, which Hendricks said she failed to address in a healthy way.
“I could have reached out to all my friends — and I tried and was rejected,” Hendricks told the board in a recorded statement from her first parole hearing. “I had postpartum depression on depression, and I did not mean to take it out on my son. I meant to take it out on myself. I was pretty much lonely. I couldn’t handle a lot of things. I wasn’t all there.”
During her sentencing, defense attorney Ryan Bushell described Hendricks as emotionally immature, stating that at 25, she was “going on 14.” However, prosecutor Dean Saunders emphasized that while Hendricks’ mental health challenges were acknowledged, they did not excuse the severity of the crime.
The tragic event led to Robert’s death, and his twin brother was placed in foster care before being adopted. Hendricks’ guilty plea in exchange for a reduced sentence set the stage for her potential release in the coming years, as Utah’s sentencing guidelines suggest she could be released in 2030.
Now, at 40, Hendricks is seeking parole, acknowledging that she may still spend several more years behind bars. “I can do it, but then I’m like, I just want to be released,” she said during her hearing. “I want to get back out there into society and be a member of society. I want to get myself well and have the support I need to succeed off parole and be a better person.”
Throughout her time in prison, Hendricks has focused on improving her mental health and life skills. She credits the medication she now takes for stabilizing her condition, allowing her to engage more effectively in rehabilitation programs. Hendricks described how, upon first entering the Utah State Prison, she struggled with anger and outbursts, in part due to the mistreatment she faced from other inmates and even some prison staff.
“I was just going with the flow, and people were being mean to me, even some officers,” she recalled. “But I leave educated now. I’m very normal because I’m on my psych meds.”
Hendricks admitted that she was not on her medication at the time of the crime, which she believes contributed to her unstable mental state. “I could have been, I guess, but they said there could have been side effects,” she said. “But I can’t bring my son back. It’s going to haunt me the rest of my life.”
As she nears the possibility of parole, Hendricks expressed her sincere remorse for her actions, saying that her crime is a constant source of anguish. “All I want is forgiveness and to be a better person,” she said tearfully. “I tell myself every day, ‘You’re smart. You’re not dumb.'”
Despite the enormity of her past actions, Hendricks believes she has changed and is ready to move forward as a better person. “I’m not what my crime is. I know what I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility,” she concluded. “I’m a whole changed person now.”
Hendricks now hopes for a positive outcome from the board, which will determine whether she is granted parole in the coming months.