By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The appeal for a woman convicted of murder in a 2014 trial has been denied.

According to a press release from the Livingston County State’s Attorney, the ruling was upheld January 19 for the case of Heather Lamie, who was convicted of the 2011 murder of her foster daughter, Kianna Rudesill.

For her grandparents, Wendell and Evelyn Rudesill, this news came with great comfort.

“She’s where she belongs. She did murder Kianna and we all know that. It’s just great that judges are not blind,” Wendell Rudesill said.
Both grandparents, along with many other family members, had worked for more than two years to have this case reviewed and not only was it eventually tried, but a conviction came of it.

“We would like to thank Seth Uphoff for being Kianna’s voice when nobody else would do it. We owe him greatly. We appreciate him and are thankful for him,” Evelyn Rudesill said.

Lamie was sentenced to natural life in prison February 2015.