Jake Klemp #231258
This page is dedicated to my friend Jake, whom I’ve known since elementary school. Jake “Shadoe” Klemp is a prisoner of the Michigan Department of Corrections. He is serving a life without parole (LWOP) sentence. That means Jake will die in prison unless he receives a parole, pardon, or commutation. On this page you will learn in Jake’s own words about his journey from growing up in a small, conservative community, in a middle-class family, to his status as MDOC Asset No. 231258.
Jake on a visit with two of his sisters.
Left: Jake in a MDOC mugshot.
Below: Jake with a sister in a visit photo.
Greetings From the Abyss
Jake Klemp
MDOC ID #231258
I’ve written, rewritten, deleted, and revised. It’s all coming from a place of self-doubt and being overly critical because of my intention to make this perfect. To tell my story in a manner that will reach the most people and have the most profound effect. In the process I lost focus and sight. With that written, please allow me to start over.
I started having run-ins with the law from a very early age. If memory serves me, I was ten years old when I was caught shoplifting. From there it progressed. Nothing of a violent nature, just property crimes. Looking back on it, I see it as my being a rebellious youth and pushing the boundaries at every turn. I wound up going to prison at the age of nineteen for property crimes. During that time, I experienced some things I’d rather not relive now The short of it is, I came back with a chip on my shoulder, extremely pissed off with a take-no-shit attitude.
As anyone who knew me will attest, I always had an affinity for sticking up for people I thought were being bullied or taken advantage of because they were weaker. It all boiled down to me feeling like I was righting the wrongs that had happened to me when I was younger. The night the incident occurred which ultimately ended with me being sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole, was a product of the aforementioned.
It was Sunday morning, June 18, 1998. Shortly after closing time at the Attic bar, which was within walking distance from my house. Josh Piper and I raced back on foot. We continued drinking. A lot of the details are blurry, but that’s what I remember. My roommate, Sean Eman, showed up with some guy he had met at the bar. He almost instantly started threatening Josh and continued even after Josh told him he wasn’t looking for any trouble. This is what I vividly remember because Josh wasn’t Josh anymore, he was me.
It was like a flashback of being bullied and something rose up inside me and screamed, “No more! Never again!”
Prison Nation
No more! Never again!
what happened next?
Your fucking friend killed my brother. STOP trying to defend this piece of shit! I honestly wish he would be released so I can even the score. I am well aware of his every move along with Eman and Piper. You are a sorry mother fucker for standing up for him. You will rot In hell with him.
Jake is very remorseful for the role he played in the death of your brother and respects your feelings. Thank you for your comment.
Go fuck yourself. You are a murderer and always will be someone who viciously took someone else’s life.
I love you Shadow. You are one of the best people I have ever met in my life and I know if anyone has learned their lesson, it’s you. You don’t belong in that place. Not anymore.
Hey Zed, thanks for checking out prisonnation.com and for being supportive of Jake. Jake is very remorseful for the part he played in taking someone else’s life and has learned many valuable lessons from his years of introspection.
I have been a victim of a violent crime in 2009. While I do detest even looking at a picture of this person I have forgiveness in my heart. It doesn’t do any good for your mind,body or soul to hold onto such negativity. Our loved ones especially who were ever victims of terrible crimes like my cousin Vicki Marie Elliott was killed by serial killer Bobby Jo Long. She would want us to go on with our lives and not allow the terrible manner in which she died over shadow the wonderful, beautiful person that she was.
Thank you Randi for sharing your insights. Jake has great empathy for all victims of violent crime. Although everyone is not ready or able to forgive, it’s important that victims of violent crime don’t hold onto anger, hate, and bitterness because like you said, it doesn’t do any good for a person’s mind, body, or soul, to hold onto negativity. Forgiveness is the light that outshines the darkness.