The wife of a soldier from Gainesville faced a federal judge Tuesday after tearfully proclaiming her innocence to intentionally killing two of her children in an arson fire.
Billi Jo Smallwood, 35, could face the death penalty if convicted of setting fire to the on-base residence she and her husband Wayne Smallwood shared at Fort Campbell, Ky. Her children Rebekah Smallwood, 2, and Samual Fagan, 9, died in the 29th May 2007 fire.
In court documents, federal authorities claim the arson was premeditated, that she knew children would die, and that it was committed for money.
Billi Jo Smallwood, who is separated from her husband, most recently lived in Brunswick but was arrested Tuesday in Gainesville after a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against her last week. She was brought by marshals to an initial court appearance Tuesday in US District Court in Gainesville, where her husband and some of his fellow soldiers looked on solemnly from the gallery. Smallwood, with short, reddish hair and wearing a black pantsuit and leg irons, wept through much of the brief court proceeding. Gainesville Times online article 23rd November 2008
SMART, KRISTIN murder: True Crime with Aphrodite Jones TV - NBC News online -
A missing co-ed. A young man hounded by suspicion. An important witness who has never spoken publicly before. It’s the story of how one case changed the way violent crimes are investigated on college campuses across California. True Crime with Aphrodite Jones s3e8: Girl, Gone, ID 2013
May 1996: I believe that Paul Flores already had his eye on Kristen Smart for some time. ibid.
May 25th 1996 was the last time anyone saw or heard from Kristin. She vanished without a trace from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo California where she was a student. Kristin, 19 at the time, was returning to her Muir Hall dorm room following an off-campus party with fellow student and friend, Paul Flores.
Flores later told authorities that he said goodbye to Kristin a block away from her dorm room. In July 1996, he was named a key witness by police. Although Flores has never officially been charged in connection with Kristin’s disappearance, he has since been the subject of several police inquiries and searches. Most recently, in 2007, police dug up the back patio of Flores’ Arroyo Grande home, but found nothing. NBC News online article 2nd October 2014
SMART, PAMELA et al: Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart TV - Mail online - True Crime Recaps 2023 - An American Murder Mystery TV -
911 Audiotape May 1 1990: Yes um emergency in 4E. Summerhill Condominiums. There’s someone passed out. I don’t know. A girl is hysterical in there. Her husband is passed out. Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart, Sky Atlantic 2017
May 1st 1990: Twenty-four-year-old Gregory Smart has been shot in the head. His wife Pamela Smart is accused of plotting her husband’s death. ibid. news report
The first trial ever captured live on television. ibid. news
Three teenage boys who killed Greg Smart live on the other side of town … The only possible connection is that Pam Smart works at the high-school. ibid. dude
Sex, murder, teenage kids, a teacher. ibid. reporter
Everyone concerned with Pamela Smart’s trial was caught up in a black hole, a black hole of media attention. ibid. media bloke
A cheating newlywed whose plot to kill her husband with a teenage lover became the subject of a Hollywood movie has made a new bid for freedom.
Pamela Smart, of New Hampshire, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, being an accomplice to first-degree murder and witness tampering in March 1991 at the age of 22 over the death of her 24-year-old husband.
She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole but all the while has maintained she had nothing to do with plotting his murder. For the past two decades, she has lost all her legal appeals.
Ms Smart, 47, now hopes that a new documentary examining the media fervour at her trial – which she believes swayed the public and ultimately the jury’s decision – will convince New Hampshire authorities to allow her a parole hearing. Mail online article 20th January 2015, ‘Ice queen’ newlywed, who conspired to murder husband with teen lover and became subject of Nicole Kidman movie, hopes new documentary will prove her innocence’
The early ’90s were a confusing time for Billy Flynn. The 15-year-old fell head over heals for an older married woman. He thought she felt the same way. But if they wanted to be together they’d have to get rid of her husband first. This is the story of Pamela Smart. True Crime Recaps: The Husband Had to Go: Pamela Smart’s Final Solution, Youtube 17.15, 2023
There lying facing down in a pool of blood was her 24-year-old husband. He’d been shot in the back of the head execution style. The house was ransacked. ibid.
The captain felt the scene stunk to high heaven. ibid.
Pamela had an iron-clad alibi; she was at a school meeting all night. ibid.
She was more concerned about he dog than she was about catching her husband’s killer. ibid.
It is one of the most scandalous tales in American history. 24-year-old Gregory Smart is found murdered in his own home. An American Murder Mystery: Pamela Smart I, 2018
‘Bill Flynn was so obsessed and so lovestruck he might have done anything to be with Pamela Smart.’ ibid.
Pamela settles into the spotlight. ibid.
Detectives are still not convinced this is a burglary gone awry. ibid.
A 15-year-old co-worker has been talking about a woman trying to have her husband murdered. ibid.
Investigators zero in on the teens named by Welch. Police soon discover that Billy Flynn and Vance Lattime know Mrs Smart personally. ibid.
A teen informant sets a dangerous trap. The police make their move. The hugely anticipated trial turns into a media spectacle. An American Murder Mystery: Pamela Smart II
A credible tip leads them to three teens: Bill Flynn, Patrick Randall and JR Latimme … Investigators turn their attention to another teen: Cecelia Pierce. ibid.
‘I’m being held for a crime I didn’t commit.’ ibid. Smart
‘Most people don’t have that kind of life insurance on their husband.’ ibid. comment
The prosecution plays the shocking secret tape. But the defense argues their client is the victim of a conspiracy. An American Murder Mystery: Pamela Smart III
The question remains, Was justice served? ibid.
SMITH, BEVERLY LYNN murder: The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith TV -
Mom told me that Beverly had died and she had been shot in the back of the head. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith I: The Catch, Barbara Brown, Amazon Prime 2022
Tonight a man is in custody accused of killing Beverly Lynn Smith back in 1974. ibid. news
This is a mystery that has endured for decades and has affected innumerable lives. ibid. Jeff Mitchell, crime reporter
In 1974 Al Smith lived across the street from Beverly. ibid. journalist
You took an innocent man and shredded him to a mere nothing. ibid. Al Smith
After Beverly and Doug got married, they moved to a little house in Raglan. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith II: The Girl Next Door, sister
She was shot from behind in the back of the head. ibid. comment
Alan Smith: He’s the neighbour who essentially discovered this crime. ibid.
Doug Smith was well known as someone who sold marijuana. ibid.
Mark Kenny continued to be contacted by police as a person of interest until 2008. ibid. caption
In 1988 Doug Daigle was arrested for the murder of Beverly Lynn Smith but no formal charge was ultimately laid. He died in 2017. ibid.
Doug Smith was cleared by Durham Regional Police of any involvement in his wife’s murder. ibid.
Did this case get off on the wrong foot from the get go? Durham Police had just been formed and so when this murder happened, it was one of the first homicides that they were investigating. There are allegations later that they did a faulty job collecting evidence: notes were lost, photographs weren’t taken that should have been … ibid. journalist
The started right from scratch with a new team. ibid. sister
[Al Smith]: This is a fucking mystery. And hang on. It’s about to get rough. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith III: Alibi
March 2008: With Linda’s new statements, Alan Smith is arrested for the murder of Beverly Lynn Smith. Linda is also arrested for obstruction of justice. ibid. caption
4 months after Alan Smith is arrested, he is released. ibid.
The police emotionally torturing Linda Smith for the sole purpose of getting a case against Al Smith. And no-one can assess the damage it did to Linda. ibid. lawyer
You’re going to tell him [undercover rozzer posing as Mr Big] anything in order for you to get out that door. I manufactured a story. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith IV: The Release, Al to camera
Without the confessions, the Crown didn’t feel there was enough evidence to carry on. ibid. family