Naman Shrestha
Hulu’s ‘Blood & Myth’ is a true crime documentary film that primarily revolves around the mystery of Iñukuns and the crimes committed by a well-reputed Alaskan actor named Teddy Kyle Smith. However, the series of his violent attacks started after his mother, Dolly Smith, passed away in their house in Kiana, Alaska. The local troopers not only had a mysterious death of Dolly to uncover, but also a fugitive on the run, as Teddy remained a person of interest in the case.
Dolly Smith Was a Religious and Important Member of the Community of Kiana
On December 13, 1937, in Noorvik, Alaska, May and Teddy Johnson welcomed a little bundle of joy into the world in the form of Dolly M. Johnson “Paanikaaluk” Smith. However, Dolly was raised in Kiana by her adoptive parents, Josie and Lorin Black, who treated her as one of their own. In her teenage years, she was employed at Kobuk Camp, where she lent her hand in the kitchen. At the age of 17, she tied the knot with Donald Smith on December 1, 1955, in Noorvik. Over the course of their marriage, they gave birth to seven children — Maggie Smith, Lisa Nalikak, Lorena, Donna Sabo, William Willie Smith, Teddy Smith — whom they raised in Kiana and Shugnak.
From 1974 to 2000, Dolly worked as the CHP Supervisor in the Community Health Aide. Being a kind and compassionate woman, she enjoyed working with visiting doctors and nurses and loved to help sick patients in any way possible. Despite having a full-time job, the mother of seven juggled it with her passion for setting fish nets and processing fish. In her free time, she also enjoyed gardening every once in a while. After retiring, Dolly spent her time sewing and harvesting traditional foods. The sociable woman loved outdoor life and frequently went berry picking with her loved ones.
In the last few years of her life, she developed her skills as a seamstress, so much so that she sold many fur parkas, atikluks, and fur hats to the locals across Kiana. Dolly and her husband, Donald, religiously attended church services, with the former also singing alto for the Kiana Friends Church singing groups. She was also an integral member of the Ministry and Council and the Alaska Yearly Meeting Board. Besides that, she had been appointed as one of the Representatives for the church at the Quarterly Meetings. Given her devotion to the church, the Kiana resident was also the Treasurer, Presiding Clerk, and the Recording Clerk for the monthly meetings. Dolly also liked to teach Iñupiaq to the elders in the community. In June 2012, she suffered a devastating loss as Donald, her loving husband of 56 years, passed away.
Dolly Smith Died Under Mysterious Circumstances
The next few months were naturally difficult for Dolly Smith as she dealt with the demise of her partner. On September 7, she was at home in Kiana, Alaska, with her son, Teddy Smith, who had reportedly been drinking, when she suddenly died under mysterious circumstances. As the first responders arrived at the property, Teddy fired a handgun at a crowd outside the house and fled the scene. The authorities tried to inspect the potential crime scene and get to the bottom of the 74-year-old woman’s death. Despite sending her remains to Anchorage for an autopsy, the manner or cause of death couldn’t be determined.
Upon going through the house, the troopers found no evidence of a struggle or foul play. Soon after her demise, fundraisers were set up by the people in the village to pay for the couple’s children to visit Dolly’s funeral. The reason for Teddy’s behavior after her death is that he allegedly thought that he would be considered a suspect since he was in the house when she passed away. Although he was charged and convicted of two counts of first-degree attempted murder in connection with the attacks on Paul and Charles Buckel, he denied having anything to do with his mother’s death. To this day, the death of Dolly Smith remains a mysterious subject.
Read More: Where is Teddy Kyle Smith Now? Update on the Alaskan Actor
