Bio

Byron David Smith was born on June 11, 1948. He grew up in Minnesota, where he would later live for much of his life. Smith served in the military, specifically in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his service, he worked for the U.S. State Department for over 20 years. His work involved security engineering for embassies, which included international travel to places like Moscow, Bangkok, and Beijing.

In the years leading up to the significant events in his life, Smith experienced a number of troubling incidents at his home. He had been burglarized multiple times, with reports indicating at least six break-ins in a matter of months. Some of these thefts included items of great personal value, such as military medals, a watch belonging to his father, and various firearms. Following these incidents, he became increasingly concerned about his safety and began to carry a loaded gun around his home.

Concern grew when it appeared that some of the burglaries were linked to local teenagers, including Haile Kifer and Nicholas Brady, who were later involved in a serious incident at Smith's home. By the time of the tragic events, Smith had taken steps to increase security, including installing a surveillance system in his house. This equipment recorded events leading up to and including when two teenagers broke into his home on November 22, 2012, which set off a series of outcomes that led to a highly publicized trial and conviction.

Murder Story

On November 22, 2012, Byron David Smith was in his basement when 18-year-old Haile Kifer and her 17-year-old cousin Nicholas Brady broke into his home in Little Falls, Minnesota. Smith shot Brady first as he came down the basement stairs. He shot him twice, and then a third time in the face as Brady fell to the ground. Minutes later, Kifer arrived on the stairs. Smith shot her once, and when she fell down, he used another gun after his rifle jammed. He shot her multiple times in the chest while she was on the ground. Afterward, Smith dragged both bodies into a workshop in his basement.

Smith waited until the next day to contact the police, saying he did not want to bother them on Thanksgiving. Audio from his security system recorded the sounds of the break-in and the shootings. Smith made statements during these recordings that were later used against him in the investigation.

When police arrived, they found Smith sitting in a chair in the basement. He explained that he believed the teens were armed and that he shot them out of fear for his life. However, the evidence suggested that the teens were unarmed and that Smith's actions after the initial shots demonstrated premeditation. He was charged and later convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree murder. On April 29, 2014, Smith was sentenced to life in prison without parole.