In Anchorage, Alaska, it took a jury less than two hours to decide that a man was guilty of killing two women. One of the victims was horrifically recorded in a long and disturbing video, as revealed by prosecutors and the Anchorage Daily News.
During the assault, a voice, which was not shown in the footage, told the badly injured Kathleen Jo Henry, 30, "In my videos, everyone dies. What will my followers think of me? People should know when they're being targeted by a serial killer."
The voice is believed to be Brian Steven Smith, a 53-year-old originally from South Africa. He committed the gruesome murder on September 4, 2019, at a local hotel.
Jurors watched several hours of interviews where Smith talked to the police. Although he claimed not to remember killing Henry, he admitted to recognizing himself in the photos and videos of the murder. "I'm sure I did this. That's me. I'm not denying it," he confessed. He also admitted to shooting another woman about a year earlier and dumping her body. This second victim was identified as Veronica Abouchuk, 52, whom Smith killed sometime in August 2018.
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A crucial witness, Valerie Casler, testified that she found the incriminating videos and photos after taking Smith's phone from his truck. However, Smith's defense attacked her credibility, calling her a habitual liar. Casler originally lied about how she obtained the evidence, claiming she found an SD card labeled "homicide at midtown Marriott" on the street. She later admitted to transferring the material from Smith's phone herself.
Authorities stated that Smith targeted vulnerable Alaska Native women, often picking them up from places like the Brother Francis Shelter and a grocery store in Fairview. Casler testified that she met Smith while living in a tent behind a church. He picked her up, and they drove around town together while she drank flavored vodka from a Gatorade bottle.
Smith was found guilty on 14 counts, including two counts of first-degree murder, second-degree sexual assault, tampering with evidence, and obstruction of justice. Sentencing is set for July 12 and 19. He faces 30 to 99 years for Abouchuk's murder and a mandatory 99 years for Henry's death due to the jury finding an aggravating factor: substantial physical torture.
Veronica Abouchuk's sister, Rena Sapp, celebrated the verdict, saying, "Today is for my sister Veronica and Kathleen."
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