Pam Hupp will no longer face the death penalty in the high-profile killing of Betsy Faria, as her case moves toward a judge-only trial scheduled for 2028.
Bench trial chosen
During a recent court hearing in St. Charles County, Hupp waived her right to a jury trial. Instead, her case will be decided by a judge in a bench trial set to begin on January 31, 2028.
By opting for this route:
- The death penalty is no longer an option
- A judge alone will determine her guilt or innocence
Case background
Hupp was charged in 2021 in connection with Faria’s 2011 death. The case drew widespread attention after Faria’s husband, Russ Faria, was initially convicted in 2013 before being acquitted in a 2015 retrial.
Prosecutors’ allegations
Investigators believe Hupp killed Faria and staged the scene to look like a domestic attack. Authorities allege:
- The victim had recently named Hupp as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy
- The crime was staged to implicate Faria’s husband
- The insurance money was never distributed as claimed
Separate murder conviction
Hupp is already serving a life sentence for the 2016 killing of Louis Gumpenberger. Prosecutors said that killing was part of a staged home invasion meant to divert attention from the Faria case.
She entered an Alford plea in that case and remains incarcerated at a Missouri correctional facility.
What’s next
The next pretrial hearing is scheduled for August 3, as both sides continue preparing for what is expected to be a closely watched trial.
Key takeaway
Pam Hupp’s decision to forgo a jury trial removes the possibility of a death sentence, but the long-delayed case tied to Betsy Faria’s killing is now on track for a decisive courtroom showdown in 2028.