Bio

Edgar H. Smith was born in 1934 in the United States. He grew up in New Jersey. At a young age, he had a troubled family life. His father was an abusive alcoholic. This environment affected Edgar and shaped some of his behaviors in his later life.

As a teenager, Smith served in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the military, he worked as a mechanic. However, he had a hard time keeping steady jobs and often found himself unemployed. This instability in his life put him under financial stress.

In March 1957, when he was 23 years old, Smith was charged with a crime that would change his life forever. At that time, he was married and had a young daughter. He borrowed a friend’s car on the night of a tragic event that involved the murder of a 15-year-old girl named Victoria Ann Zielinski.

Murder Story

On March 4, 1957, Edgar H. Smith murdered 15-year-old Victoria Ann Zielinski in Mahwah, New Jersey. Victoria was walking home after visiting a friend. Her parents became worried when she did not return, and by the next morning, they began searching for her. They found one of her shoes and later a bloodstained head scarf. While looking around a nearby sand pit, they discovered her body.

Smith, an unemployed mechanic, had borrowed a friend's car the night of the murder. He later aroused suspicion among his friends when he had to explain a missing pair of trousers, claiming he had been sick on them. After police found blood in the car, Smith was brought in for questioning. During interviews, he could not explain events that occurred during the time around Victoria’s disappearance.

In court, witnesses testified about the events leading to Victoria’s death. Myrna Zielinski, Victoria's younger sister, stated she last saw Victoria at around 7:40 PM when she continued walking toward her friend's house alone. Victoria never arrived at the meeting point they had arranged. Different pieces of evidence pointed to Smith, and he appeared visibly shaken when friends joked about the type of car connected to the murder.

After a trial that attracted significant media attention, Smith was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He spent 14 years on death row, during which he maintained his innocence. In 1971, following numerous appeals, his conviction was reduced to second-degree murder after it was determined that his confession had been coerced. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and was released.

Smith's life after his release included public speaking and media appearances, but he struggled with alcohol and financial issues. In October 1976, Smith kidnapped Lefteriya Ozbun at knifepoint in San Diego, California. He stabbed her during the attack, but she managed to escape. Smith was apprehended after a witness reported his vehicle's license plate.

He was convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Smith's attempts to appeal this sentence were unsuccessful, and he faced health issues as he aged. His last parole hearing was in April 2009.