Love. Honor. Betray. (Rebroadcast)
The murder of Sergeant Tyrone Hassel III, a 23-year-old Army officer on leave for Christmas, was initially a baffling case with no clear motive—until an anonymous tip revealed a shocking truth: his wife, Specialist Kamiya Hassel, had been having a secret affair with another soldier, Jeremy Cuellar. What began as a seemingly random assassination in the family's driveway was, in fact, a meticulously planned execution. Cuellar, driven by jealousy and a desire for a new life, orchestrated the killing, with Kamiya providing critical intelligence via Snapchat and phone calls to track her husband’s movements. Despite her initial denials, she confessed under pressure during a polygraph and interrogation, admitting she had been emotionally neglected at home and saw the murder as her only path to freedom. The case unraveled through forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and testimony from military colleagues who had heard Cuellar brag about the crime. Kamiya was sentenced to life without parole, while Cuellar pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 65 to 90 years. The story exposes how love, betrayal, and desperation can collide in the most tragic ways—turning a family’s holiday into a national tragedy and a courtroom drama that shocked the nation. The episode reveals that the murder was not a crime of passion but a cold, calculated act fueled by emotional abandonment and financial gain.
Kamiya Hassel was emotionally neglected by her husband and used the murder as a way to escape her marriage, not out of love for Cuellar but out of desperation.
The murder was premeditated: Cuellar had attempted to kill Tyrone at least six times before succeeding, showing this was not a spur-of-the-moment act.
Kamiya used Snapchat to send real-time updates about her husband’s movements, including when he was leaving the house and returning with food.
Cuellar bragged to multiple soldiers about the murder, including describing standing over Tyrone and firing a second shot to confirm the kill.
The couple’s son, Tyrone IV, now lives with Kamiya’s mother, and the family honors his father’s legacy with an annual 'Fly High Tie Day' at local games.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Scene of the Crime
“I saw the subject, who was later identified as Sergeant Tyrone Hassel, laying on the ground next to his pickup truck with a large amount of blood, with his wife had grasped onto him hysterical.”
The First Investigation
Police begin gathering evidence, including shell casings and a black duffel bag, while trying to piece together what happened. The lack of motive and the absence of a robbery suggest a targeted assassination.
The Innocent Witness
“I won't hurt you, okay? I'll probably never forget that. He was probably a year and a half old at the time. You know, total innocent person there and you have to um go and get him out but you also have to kick into dad mode so he is comfortable enough to come to me so i can pick him up take him out to his grandpa”
The Search for Motive
Investigators struggle to find a motive. The victim was a respected sergeant with no known enemies. The case is baffling—until a neighbor provides a critical lead about a black sedan.
A Life of Promise
The episode shifts to Tyrone’s background—his academic excellence, athletic talent, and military success. He was a role model from Benton Harbor, a town with high crime rates, making his death even more tragic.
“I probably could have stopped it, but the reason why I didn't because I felt like he would be mad at me. And not love you anymore? Yeah. Because I just felt like I wasn't getting that love at home like I wanted to.”
“You guys should look at your wife. She basically told us we need to look at Kamiya.”
“I'm being real with you like I'm truly sorry. I thought I loved her. You know what I'm saying? I was all over the place.”
Hosts
Guests
Kamiya Hassel
person
Jeremy Cuellar
person
Tyrone Hassel III
person
Tyrone Hassel Jr.
person
Sergeant Mike Lanier
person
Benton Harbor
place
Fort Stewart
organization
St. Joe Township Police Department
organization
Army CID
organization
Berrien County Jail
organization
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