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Murder of Kathleen Jo Henry

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Murder of Kathleen Jo Henry
DateOctober 2, 2019 (2019-10-02) (body discovered)
LocationAnchorage, Alaska, U.S.
ArrestsBrian Steven Smith
ChargesFirst degree murder
Second-degree murder
Sexual assault
Tampering with evidence
VerdictGuilty on all counts

The murder of Kathleen Jo Henry occurred on September 4, 2019, in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. The murder occurred at a local TownePlace Suites hotel, room 322, operated by Marriott International.

Overview

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The murder of Kathleen Henry, who was also sexually assaulted before her death, made international news when it was revealed that her alleged killer, Brian Steven Smith, recorded her death in both still photograph as well as numerous videos which he recorded on an SD card. Henry's remains were found along Alaska's Seward Highway on October 2, 2019.[1]

Detectives with the Anchorage Police Department recognized Smith from a previous investigation involving him, and obtained a warrant for his arrest. On October 8, 2019, Smith was arrested at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, where he arrived after returning from a trip. Smith was subsequently booked into an Anchorage jail. Police have stated that they discovered thirty-nine photos and twelve videos related to Henry's assault and murder on the SD card, which was found by a woman on a phone she had earlier stolen from Smith's truck.[2][3]

On October 17, 2019, Smith was charged with the murder of a second woman, Veronica Abouchuk, whom Smith allegedly confessed to killing. Smith allegedly admitted to her death, and told authorities where they could find her body.[4]

Kathleen Jo Henry

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Kathleen Jo Henry was born December 22, 1988, in Bethel, Alaska. An Alaska Native woman from the Yup'ik Eskimo village of Eek, Henry obtained her GED in 2012, while incarcerated in Alaska's Highland Mountain Correctional Center, a state prison in the Anchorage neighborhood of Eagle River. A divorcee who was single at the time of her death, Henry struggled with addiction and criminal run-ins with law enforcement over the years. She was a frequent user of Facebook and other social media, and enjoyed writing poetry. At the time of her death, she was 30 years old.[5]

Suspect

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Brian Steven Smith was identified as the suspect in the murder of Kathleen Henry, based on photograph and video evidence obtained by the Anchorage Police Department. Since then, Smith has been implicated in another murder, and authorities consider him a serial killer. His past in both the United States, as well as in South Africa, is the subject of an ongoing, international investigation.

Brian Steven Smith (b. March 23, 1971) was born in South Africa, in the Queenstown area, and later immigrated to the United States. Smith became a U.S. citizen in September 2019. In 2019, Smith was arrested in Anchorage, Alaska, after he returned from an out of state trip, and was charged with the sexual assault and murder of Kathleen Jo Henry that past September, at a Marriott International affiliate, where he was an employee and had rented a discounted room from September 2–4. Police believe the murder of Henry occurred on September 4, 2019.

On October 17, 2019, Smith was charged with murdering a second woman, Veronica Abouchuk, after allegedly confessing to her murder and telling authorities where they could find her body. The Police already had discovered the remains of Abouchuk on the 18th, likely before questioning.[6] Detectives with the Anchorage Police Department, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, continued to look into Smith's past.[7]

Trial

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On February 22, 2024, a jury found Smith guilty on all 14 charges against him.[8] On July 12, 2024, Smith was sentenced to 226 years in prison.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ortiz, Aimee (October 9, 2019). "Memory Card Found With Brutal Videos and Photos Leads to Murder Arrest". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Pineda, Dhanika (February 22, 2024). "Brian Steven Smith found guilty on all counts for the murder of 2 Native Alaska women". ABC News. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  3. ^ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alaska-murder-videos-brian-steven-smith-b2490706.html
  4. ^ "Man Seen in Strangling Video Charged in Killing of 2nd Woman in Alaska". KTLA. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  5. ^ McBride, Jessica (2019-10-11). "Kathleen Henry: A Tribute to the Murdered Alaska Woman". Heavy.com. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Brian Smith Indicted in Murder of Second Alaska Native Woman". 18 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Man Heard in Strangling Video Charged in Killing of 2nd Woman in Alaska". KTLA Morning News. Associated Press. October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  8. ^ Pineda, Dhanika (February 22, 2024). "Brian Steven Smith found guilty on all counts for the murder of 2 Native Alaska women". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Man gets 226 years in deaths of 2 Alaska Native women. He filmed the torture of one". Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
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