Bio

Michael Marnell Smith was born in 1946. Little is known about his early life, but he grew up in Virginia.

As a young man, Smith faced legal troubles. He was involved in criminal activities that ultimately led to his conviction for rape in 1973. His time spent in prison influenced the trajectory of his life and contributed to his return to criminal behavior upon release.

After his release from prison, Smith lived on a farm near the Colonial Parkway in James City County, Virginia. His life during this period was marked by difficulty and instability, evidenced by his prior conviction and the choices he made thereafter.

Murder Story

On May 23, 1977, Michael Marnell Smith encountered 35-year-old Audrey Weiler at a beach in James City County, Virginia. Smith had recently been released from prison after serving time for a previous rape conviction. He offered to help Weiler when she complained about briars in her feet, leading her into the brush near the Colonial Parkway.

Once in a secluded area, Smith produced a hunting knife and raped Weiler at knife point. He then choked her to death. After realizing she was still alive, he dragged her into the nearby water and repeatedly stabbed her. The medical examiner later determined that her death was caused by drowning, along with strangulation and stab wounds.

Smith was arrested and charged with capital murder and rape. On November 2, 1977, he was found guilty. The next day, the jury recommended the death penalty based on two aggravating circumstances: his danger to society and the vile nature of the crime. His trial was marked by multiple legal challenges, including appeals to the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Supreme Court of the United States, all of which were unsuccessful.

After spending more than eight years on death row, Smith was executed by electric chair on August 31, 1986. He was the first person condemned under Virginia's newly reinstated death penalty law.