$3 Million Judgment – Son Murdered by Pam Hupp

$3 Million Judgment. Gary Burger represented Margaret Burch, the mother of murder victim Louis Gumpenberger.
On Friday, June 17, 2020, they won their wrongful death case and the judge made a three million dollar judgment in
Burch’s favor.

On June 1, 2022 we received the first payment from Pam Hupp. While it’s not much, it is a start. We will continue to
work tirelessly to help this family recover from this evil murderer.

The Criminal Case

Pam Hupp was arrested in August 2016 for the murder of Louis Gumpenberger. Hupp tricked Gumpenberger, who had
disabilities, into believing she had a way to help him make quick money. The promise of money lured Gumpenberger
into Hupp’s home in O’Fallon. Hupp then shot and killed Gumpenberger in her own bedroom after making a 911 call to
attempt to corroborate her actions. In the call Hupp lied that Louis jumped out of a van with a knife and attacked
her, demanding that she drive him and the driver of the van to the bank to get money belonging to Russ Faria, the
victim of another crime by Hupp. She claimed that she shot him in self-defense. Further details on the events
surrounding the murder can be found in the petition below.

View court petition

View case docket

On June 19, 2019, Hupp took an Alford plea in the St. Charles Circuit Division for her criminal case and was
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She is currently at the Chillicothe Correctional
Center, one of Missouri’s prisons for females.

The life sentence did not bring Burch much peace for the death of her son, and understandably so. Though Hupp is
confined in prison, she has not expressed remorse for her crime and, through her Alford plea, has avoided taking any
responsibility for committing any criminal acts. Phone recordings between Hupp and her husband depict Hupp gloating
about not having to take responsibility for the murder. She also ridiculed the judge during her June 2018 court
hearing.

The Wrongful Death Suit

Burch sought reparations through a wrongful death suit against Hupp in an attempt to bring her grandson,
Gumpenberger’s son, some peace. Burch had the courage to give testimony in court. It was an emotional scene. It is
clear that Burch and her grandson have been through unspeakable pain because of Hupp’s actions. Everyone was deeply
moved by the testimony, and the judge offered an apology to Burch for what she has been through. Hupp was invited to
appear, but did not do so.

In the end, Burch was awarded three million dollars for the loss of her son. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that she or
her grandson will ever see anywhere near that amount from Hupp. The judgment will deter Hupp from profiting off of
her criminal actions and, if she ever does, the money will end up in the hands of those who most deserve it.

Learn more about this case from the Fox
News story or the St.
Louis Post Dispatch article.

View Story in MO Lawyers Media

Gary Burger

Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO

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