Pamela Ann Smart was born as Pamela Wojas in Coral Gables, Florida, on August 16, 1967. She was the daughter of John and Linda Wojas. Pamela spent her early childhood in Miami. When she was in the eighth grade, her family moved to Derry, New Hampshire.

In Derry, Pamela attended Pinkerton Academy. She was active in school and became a cheerleader. After graduating from high school, she went to Florida State University (FSU). At FSU, she studied communications, focusing on "Media Performance." During her time there, she hosted a college radio program and called herself the "Maiden of Metal."

Pamela met Greggory Smart during a visit to New Hampshire for Christmas in 1986. They started dating in February 1987. After two years of dating, they got married. Greggory moved to Florida to live with her while she finished her senior year at FSU. About seven months into their marriage, they began to have problems in their relationship.

After graduating from FSU, Pamela took a job as a media coordinator at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, New Hampshire. At that job, she became involved in a school program called Project Self-Esteem, where she met a sophomore student named William "Billy" Flynn. She also met another intern named Cecelia Pierce, who was friends with Flynn.

On May 1, 1990, Pamela Smart returned home to her Derry, New Hampshire condominium and discovered her husband, Greggory Smart, murdered. The crime scene resembled a burglary gone wrong. Authorities soon suspected Pamela had involved a 15-year-old boy named William "Billy" Flynn, claiming she seduced him and pressured him into killing her husband. Flynn acted on this with the support of his friends Patrick "Pete" Randall, Vance "J.R." Lattime, Jr., and Raymond Fowler.

During the investigation, a .38 caliber pistol was recovered, thought to be the murder weapon. Further tips led detectives to Pamela's friend Cecelia Pierce, who agreed to record conversations with her. These tapes later provided evidence against Pamela. On August 1, 1990, Detective Daniel Pelletier arrested Pamela in her school's parking lot for first-degree murder.

Pamela's trial, starting on March 4, 1991, attracted considerable media attention. The prosecution relied on testimonies from the teenage co-conspirators, who had made plea deals prior to the trial. They depicted Pamela as the manipulative mastermind behind the murder plot, suggesting she wanted to escape her marriage and collect on a life insurance policy worth $140,000. Although she admitted to an affair with Flynn, Pamela maintained that the murder was solely the act of Flynn and his friends, stating she had no prior knowledge of their intentions.

After a 14-day trial, Pamela was found guilty on March 22, 1991, of being an accomplice to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and witness tampering. She received a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. Pamela argued that the media influenced her conviction.

In March 2023, the New Hampshire Supreme Court denied Pamela's request for freedom. She is currently incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York, having been transferred there from the New Hampshire State Prison for Women in 1993. This transfer was reportedly due to security concerns related to her high-profile status. While in prison, she has completed two master's degrees and engaged in various educational activities.

In October 1996, Pamela was attacked by two inmates, resulting in serious injuries. This incident led to ongoing health issues and emotional struggles for her. Although she maintained her innocence throughout her time in prison, a video statement released on June 11, 2024, marked the first time she accepted some responsibility for her husband's death. In this statement, she reflected on her past actions and expressed a wish she had recognized the potential for harm in her relationship with Flynn.

Her co-conspirators received various sentences for their roles in the crime. Billy Flynn was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder, while Patrick Randall also received a life sentence but became eligible for parole after 40 years. Vance Lattime was sentenced to life as an accomplice to second-degree murder and became eligible for parole after 30 years. Raymond Fowler, who waited in the car during the murder, received a 30-year sentence and was eligible for parole after 15 years. Over the years, many of these individuals sought releases, with some being granted parole.