Very little is publicly recorded about the early life of William Henry Smith. Born on October 28, 1957, in Ohio, Smith had already developed a reputation within his local community by the late 1980s. Known to frequent bars and local taverns, he was part of a familiar crowd in the Cincinnati nightlife scene. Much of what is documented about Smith’s life revolves around the circumstances of his crime. He had a known connection to drugs, as highlighted by his reference to a large amount of cocaine during his confession.

Smith lived with or near his mother in Cincinnati. When police later searched her residence, they would uncover crucial pieces of evidence linking him to the crime. There is no known history of mental illness, though he briefly attempted to plead not guilty by reason of insanity before withdrawing the claim during court proceedings. He waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead for a decision by a panel of judges.

On September 26, 1987, William Henry Smith and Mary Virginia Bradford, a 47-year-old Cincinnati woman, were seen dancing and socializing at a local bar they both frequented. Though they left separately that night, it’s clear that Smith later visited Bradford’s apartment. What happened next would lead to one of Ohio’s most violent and disturbing crimes.

The following day, Bradford’s boyfriend, concerned that he hadn’t seen her, entered her unlocked apartment. There, he found her lifeless body, partially nude and sprawled across her bed. Her two television sets and stereo components were missing. An autopsy later revealed ten stab wounds to her neck and chest. Five of these wounds were considered potentially fatal. Two of the stabs, one piercing her right atrium, the other her right ventricle, were ruled as the immediate cause of death. The autopsy also concluded that sexual intercourse had occurred before death and that it was not consensual.

The investigation moved quickly. A search warrant executed at Smith's mother’s home uncovered both missing televisions, bloody clothing, and bloody shoes. The blood matched Bradford's type. Smith also confessed to the crime, providing details that aligned with the physical evidence. According to his statement, he had left the apartment but returned after realizing he had forgotten $2,500 worth of cocaine and his cigarettes. He claimed that when he confronted Bradford, she denied having the drugs, and allegedly offered sex as a way to “repay” the debt. After the first intercourse, they argued again, and he claimed Bradford threatened him with a kitchen knife. He said he took the knife and stabbed her during the struggle.

What made the confession more chilling was Smith’s admission that, after stabbing her, the two returned to the bedroom where they engaged in intercourse again, though Bradford was already severely wounded or dead. Smith then stole her electronics and dumped the knife in a river on the way to his mother’s home.

Smith was indicted on October 21, 1987, for rape, murder, aggravated burglary, and aggravated robbery. He entered a plea of not guilty, and later withdrew an insanity plea. Choosing to forgo a jury, he stood trial before a three-judge panel, who convicted him of all charges on April 6, 1988. Less than two weeks later, on April 14, they sentenced him to death.

Smith remained on death row for nearly 17 years, continuing to appeal his conviction and sentence. All appeals were ultimately denied. On March 8, 2005, William Henry Smith was executed by lethal injection at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.