Court Upholds Conviction In Teen Prostitute Murder

The Washington Court of Appeals has upheld the 1995 murder conviction of a Spokane man who admitted killing a 13-year-old prostitute after robbing her of $50.

A Spokane County jury convicted 37-year-old John W. Medlock of first-degree murder for killing Rebecca Hedman. He is currently serving a 26-year prison term.

The key trial testimony came from Canadian and Spokane police officers, who said Medlock confessed to the murder.

Hedman was a Tacoma runaway who turned to drugs and prostitution in Spokane. Medlock had sex with her in October 1993, then beat her with a baseball bat when she refused to return the money he paid her, authorities said.

Her death spurred the Legislature to pass the “Becca Bill” that gives parents more control over runaways.

Medlock’s attorney, John Muenster of Seattle, said Wednesday he plans to appeal the Court of Appeals decision to the state Supreme Court.

Medlock was questioned by British Columbia police in late 1993, after he threatened suicide. During an interview, he confessed to killing Hedman. He later repeated the statements to Spokane police.

In his appeal, Medlock said the jury should never have heard the confessions.

The appeals court denied those claims, ruling that Medlock had been advised of his rights and freely agreed to speak to police about the murder.

, DataTimes