Jeremy Strohmeyer

Jeremy Strohmeyer (born October 11, 1978) is an American convicted murderer, serving four consecutive life terms for the sexual assault and murder of 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson (October 20, 1989 – May 25, 1997) at Primadonna Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada, on May 25, 1997.

The case drew national attention by focusing on the safety of children in casinos and on the revelation that Strohmeyer's friend, David Cash Jr., said he saw the crime in progress but did not stop it.

In the early morning of May 25, 1997, two males, Jeremy Strohmeyer (age 18) and David Cash Jr. (age 17), were at the Primadonna Resort & Casino at Primm, Nevada, near the California state line.

The two young men had arrived at the gambling establishment, accompanied by Cash's father, from their homes in Long Beach.

Strohmeyer was a student at Wilson High School in Long Beach.

At around 4 a.m., Strohmeyer began repeatedly making apparently "playful" contact with 7-year-old Sherrice Iverson, who was roaming the casino alone.

The young girl's father was gambling and drinking.

Her father left Sherrice in the care of her 14-year-old brother, Harold, in the casino's arcade.

This resulted in Sherrice running around unmonitored.

The girl had been returned to her father several times through the night, having been found alone by security.

Eventually, Strohmeyer followed Sherrice into a women's restroom.

While in the restroom, the two began throwing wet paper wads at one another.

Sherrice then reportedly tossed a yellow plastic "Wet Floor" sign at Strohmeyer.

At around this time, Strohmeyer's friend, David Cash, entered the restroom and witnessed Strohmeyer forcibly taking Iverson into a stall.

When Cash looked in from the adjacent stall, he saw Strohmeyer holding his left hand over Iverson's mouth and fondling her with his right.

After this, Cash left the restroom and was followed 20 minutes later by Strohmeyer, who confessed to him that he had killed the girl.

Three days later, Strohmeyer was taken into custody at his home.

Two classmates in Long Beach had identified him after security tape footage captured by cameras at the casino was released by Nevada police and played on the television news.

Strohmeyer was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and sexual assault of a minor.

When questioned by police, Strohmeyer stated that he molested Iverson and strangled her to stifle her screams.

Before leaving, Strohmeyer noticed Iverson was still alive and twisted her head in an attempt to break her neck.

After hearing a loud popping sound, he rested her body in a sitting position on the toilet with her feet in the bowl.

Strohmeyer's attorneys later tried to have the confession suppressed because he was not given legal counsel.

However, the police claimed that Strohmeyer waived his right to have an attorney present during questioning.

Strohmeyer's defense attorney was Leslie Abramson, who represented many high-profile clients, including the Menéndez brothers.

Strohmeyer claimed he was high on alcohol and drugs at the time and did not remember committing the crimes.

It was even suggested that perhaps the witness, David Cash, had, in fact, been the one to murder Sherrice, as Strohmeyer claimed to have no recollection of his actions and the witness was the one to actually tell him what he had seen him doing in the bathroom that night.

Abramson also noted that Strohmeyer's biological father is in prison and his biological mother is in a mental hospital.

Strohmeyer's trial was scheduled to begin in September 1998.

Strohmeyer was originally facing a possible death sentence for the murder (had the case gone to trial), but hours before his trial was to start, Abramson entered a plea bargain on his behalf.

On September 8, 1998, Strohmeyer pleaded guilty to four charges: first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault on a minor with substantial bodily harm and sexual assault on a minor.

On October 14, 1998, he was sentenced to four life terms, one for each crime he pleaded guilty to, to be served consecutively without possibility of parole.

Strohmeyer was initially incarcerated at Ely State Prison, a maximum security prison located north of Ely, Nevada, where most prisoners in Nevada who are serving life without parole are imprisoned for at least the early portion of their sentences.

He was placed in administrative segregation, meaning that he was not placed in the general inmate population, but rather in his own cell in a special secured section.

His prison number is #059389.

Strohmeyer was reportedly transferred to the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nevada, where he is classified as "medium" custody.

Strohmeyer as of January 2023 is in High Desert State Prison which is a low/medium custody.

Jeremy Strohmeyer subsequently appealed his conviction.

In 2000, he was unsuccessfully defended by Camille Abate.

Strohmeyer recanted his confession and accused Abramson of lying to him and bullying him into pleading not guilty in order to cover up her misunderstanding of Nevada law.