Bio

Todd Lee Smith was born on December 23, 1960. He grew up in a challenging environment. As Smith grew older, he struggled with various personal issues. He dealt with long-term addiction to drugs and alcohol. This addiction likely affected his behavior and choices throughout his life. There were also mentions of mental health concerns and personality disorders, which could have contributed to his struggles.

In his youth, Smith did not have a significant criminal history. He seemed to have some family support during his early years. However, some researchers have noted that he came from a dysfunctional family background, which may have impacted his overall development.

Murder Story

On August 1, 1995, Todd Lee Smith committed a robbery that ended in the deaths of 72-year-old Joe Tannehill and his 73-year-old wife, Elaine. Smith entered their trailer at a campsite in Coconino County, Arizona. The couple allowed him inside because he pretended to have injured his hand, wrapping a shirt around it to appear wounded.

Once inside, Smith attacked the Tannehills. He used a gun to hit them multiple times and then cut their throats. After the murders, Smith stole various items from the trailer, including a television set, several necklaces, and about $130 in change.

Smith was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and first-degree burglary. His trial began on March 31, 1997, with a presiding judge named H. Jeffrey Coker and prosecutor Camille Bibles.

A jury found him guilty on April 24, 1997. On September 24, 1997, Smith was sentenced to death for his crimes. The court identified several aggravating factors, such as the multiple murders and the victims' ages, which made the crimes more severe. Smith's actions were driven by the desire for financial gain, and he faced no significant mitigating circumstances to lessen his sentence.