U.S. Supreme Court again declines to hear Widmer case

The United States Supreme Court declined Monday to hear the second appeal of Ryan Widmer’s conviction, according to court records. The Warren County man, who is serving 15 years to life in prison for murdering his wife, Sarah, is seeking a fourth trial.

In her second appeal, Widmer’s lawyer, Michele Berry-Godsey, had asked the justices to consider whether Widmer’s request to have his wife’s DNA tested to see if she suffered from Long QT — a rare inherited heart disorder that causes people to pass out and drown when they are near or in a body of water — should have been allowed.

The 32-year-old’s first conviction in 2009 was overturned by juror misconduct, a second jury was hung in 2010, and a third jury convicted him in 2011.

Berry-Godsey filed two petitions with the high court. Her first appeal asked the justices two questions: whether the bathtub was illegally ripped out of the couple’s home and whether “junk science” testimony about hand and forearm prints on the now infamous tub should have been allowed.

The high court denied the petition Oct. 7 without comment.

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