The Murder of Jaime Gough
For this case, I watched an episode of Signs of A Psychopath. It’s season 1 episode 3, titled ‘I’m Not the Monster I Was.’
Background
Jaime Gough was an amazing student at Southwood Middle School. He was in the eighth grade, was a straight A student, and a violin player, who attended the Southwood performing arts center. He was very close to his family, and was the only son of Jorge and Maria Gough.
He was described as an animal lover, happy and fun.
Jaime Gough
A straight A student
A Middle School Nightmare
On February 3, 2004, Jaime Gough was lured to the boy’s bathroom by his friend Michael Hernandez. They went into the large stall, where Michael would later say that he needed a lot of room.
Michael had told Jaime that he had something to show him. He had Jaime turn around, while he put on his gloves. Michael then covered Jaime’s mouth and slit his throat.
Michael was later asked by the police if Jaime had tried to fight back. Michael said yes, and that Jaime begged him not to kill him. Michael lied, and said he wouldn’t kill him if he cooperated. He then stabbed Jaime in the neck, aiming for his jugular vein.
Michael flushed his gloves down the toilet, put the broken 4-inch knife in his picket, wiped some blood of his jacket, and walked out of the bathroom stall.
Michael’s Failed Plans
It wasn’t long for word to spread around the middle school that a body was found in the boy’s bathroom. A teacher contacted the police after she saw blood on Michael’s shirt.
When the police arrived, they found a latex glove and jacket that had some blood on it. Michael was taken into custody.
During the interrogation, Michael was more than happy to confess. He told the police that he actually planned to kill his friend Andre Martin, and then kill Jaime after.
Michael’s plans changed twice. On the first day, he was able to lure both Andre and Jaime into the bathroom. The boys were saved by the school bell, and Michael asked them if they would cooperate the next day. They said yes. However, Andre was suspicious, and didn’t come to school on February 3.
Michael told the police that he picked Jaime because he knew that Jaime would follow him into the bathroom, because they were such good friends. Michael was asked if what he did was right or wrong. Michael said it wasn’t right or wrong, and that he wasn’t sorry it happened.
The Journals
It was apparent that Michael didn’t care that he had just killed his friend. He showed no emotion, and as the interview went on, he had to be told to slow down.
Michael’s journals proved that he was obsessed with murder, serial/spree killers and violent images. On the bottom of one page, he wrote ‘I will become a serial killer.’
He wrote out the steps of what he would do to kill someone. Besides Jaime and Andre, he wrote that he wanted to kill his sister too.
Michael was eventually convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life plus 30 years for the murder of Jaime, and attempted murder of Andre Martin.
Michael’s journal
The Jail House Calls
In 2016, the Supreme Court banned automatic life sentences for juveniles.
Michael claimed that he was a changed man. In February 2016, Michael made a bid for early release.
Michael’s jailhouse calls with his girlfriend were played. He can be heard discussing how he’d have to stab himself in order to show emotion. He also tells his girlfriend that if he would’ve become a serial killer, he’d have a signature of taking his victim’s eye, and carving a cross into their forehead.
It’s clear that Michael was not a changed man, and prosecutors fought to keep him in prison. His life sentence was upheld.
Michael Hernandez
Michael in 2016
Other
Michael Hernandez died in his prison cell in April 2021. He was 31 years old. Michael’s cause of death, according to the medical examiner, was “cardiac dysrhythmia attributed to morbid obesity.”
Jaime’s parents said this to Michael’s family when they learned of his passing:
““Mrs. Hernandez and Mr. Hernandez, we are not happy to hear that your son passed, “Despite all that we’ve been through, we as parents, know how it feels.”
Andre Martin became a detective with Miami-Dade County. He’s also engaged and has a beautiful young daughter named Ariana.
In 2018, A street in Palmetto Bay was named Jaime Gough Way. Andre was in attendance at the ceremony.
Andre Hunt, with his fiancé and daughter
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s clear that Michael was a disturbed individual, and maybe even had severe mental health issues. He absolutely deserved to be in prison for life, but, at least now he can’t hurt anyone else.
I hope that Jaime’s family is at peace now, as well as Andre. Andre knew that something was wrong that day, and probably saved his own life. Jaime didn’t deserve to be killed, especially by someone he called a close friend.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/jaime-goughs-murder/
