GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A man convicted of the 1996 murder of a woman in Kent County has died from natural causes while in custody with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), a spokesperson for the MDOC confirmed. Gary Artman was found guilty of the murder and sexual assault of Sharon Hammack after DNA evidence linked him to the crime, which had previously gone unsolved.
On Sept. 28, Artman was sentenced to life without parole for the murder of 29-year-old Hammack, as well as a consecutive life sentence for rape. During the trial, prosecutors emphasized the brutality of the crime, highlighting the evidence that led to Artman’s conviction.
The case remained unsolved for 26 years until advancements in forensic genetic genealogy helped investigators track down and connect Artman to Hammack’s murder. Hammack’s family expressed relief at the conviction, but also a sense of unfinished business, hoping for more information from Artman about other unsolved murders in the area at the time of Hammack’s death.
Artman was also facing charges for a 2006 murder in Maryland and was set to face trial there. He was found deceased in his cell, having succumbed to natural causes, while serving time with the MDOC.
The brutal nature of the murder and the impact on Hammack’s family continues to resonate in the community, as investigators work to close other unsolved cases in the area from the same period. Overall, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of justice in cold cases, as well as the importance of advancements in forensic technology in solving long-standing mysteries.