Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has introduced new legislation called “Kamisha’s Law,” which aims to eliminate the statute of limitations for certain murder charges on federal and tribal lands. The bill is named after Kamisha, a toddler who was murdered in Sisseton, South Dakota, in 1992. Her case remained unsolved for over 30 years until new evidence emerged.

“Prosecution for murder should not have an expiration date,” said Rounds. “In the case of Jay Adams Jr., new evidence was not brought forward until over three decades after Kamisha was murdered. While he was prosecuted under a plea deal, this legislation rights a wrong by eliminating the statute of limitations for second degree murder on federal lands. I appreciate Kamisha’s mother Christine and her husband Roger for working with us on this legislation, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to honor Kamisha’s memory and get it across the finish line.”

Kamisha’s mother Christine and her husband Roger Irwin also expressed their gratitude: “We sincerely appreciate Senator Mike Rounds, and his staff, for working diligently to affect change. We would also like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of FBI Special Agent Daniel Orr and Assistant US Attorney Troy Morley. They are now truly a part of our extended family. Without their recommendations, guidance, and friendship, we would not be celebrating such a monumental change in federal law. We must never forget the ultimate sacrifice that Kamisha made to get us to where we are today. We believe Kamisha’s Law will positively impact unresolved cases of other families waiting for justice. It is also our hope that Kamisha’s Law will assist law enforcement and prosecutors with the time needed to properly investigate and prosecute similar crimes. Kamisha’s Law is an important step forward and our hope is for it to be a catalyst for positive change in other federal laws and regulations that are antiquated, insufficient, and/or deficient.”

The proposed law would remove time limits on prosecuting non-capital homicide offenses committed on federal or tribal land, including second-degree murder and murder of federal officials. Congress previously removed statutes of limitations for first-degree murder as well as child sexual abuse and abduction offenses in 2003 and 2006.

The background provided by Senator Rounds notes that technological advancements in forensic science now make it possible to solve murders even decades after they occur.

In 1992, a 23-month-old child was found murdered at home in Roberts County, South Dakota. The crime went unsolved until witness testimony surfaced in 2023 leading to prosecution against Jay Adams Jr., but because the statute of limitations had expired for second-degree murder under federal law, Adams could only be prosecuted after waiving this limitation as part of a plea agreement; he pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a sentence of ten years in prison followed by supervised release.