Bio

Landon Daniel May was born on July 4, 1982, in Pennsylvania and was connected to Lancaster County. He later drew public attention because his father, Freeman May, was already on death row for an unrelated murder, making them the first known father and son separately sentenced to death in Pennsylvania. Before the Smith murders, May was associated with a group involved in burglaries, thefts, and other criminal activity. In September 2001, his participation in a planned robbery led to the double murder case that brought him a death sentence.

Murder Story

On September 1, 2001, members of a group connected to Landon Daniel May committed a burglary in Lancaster County, stealing firearms, vehicles, and other property. As police investigated that crime, suspicion soon focused on Michael Bourgeois, leading investigators toward the home of his mother and stepfather, Lucy Smith and Terry Smith.

During the night of September 5, 2001, May and Bourgeois entered the Smith residence in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors said the couple were attacked in order to obtain ATM card numbers, money, and valuables. Terry Smith was stabbed repeatedly, shot several times in the head, and asphyxiated. Lucy Smith was beaten, cut numerous times, sexually assaulted, shot in the head, and smothered. Their bodies were discovered the following morning after both unexpectedly failed to appear for work.

Police questioned May later that day. After his arrest, he waived his rights and confessed to taking part in the murders. Searches of a related residence uncovered bloody clothing, knives, a hammer, stolen property, and other evidence tying the group to the crime. DNA and fingerprint evidence further connected May to the killings. A jury later convicted him of first-degree murder and related offenses, and on January 9, 2003, he was sentenced to death. Co-defendants Michael Bourgeois and Drenea Rodriguez received life sentences.