Suvechha Sarkar
In December 2018, the city of Baltimore, Maryland, was completely shaken when a tragedy claimed the life of 54-year-old Jacquelyn Anne Smith. Initially, her death was considered to be the result of a devastating encounter on a city street, but it soon took a complicated turn as investigators began digging deeper. The episode titled ‘Deadly Intersection’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ revisits the heartbreaking case, examining the evidence that revealed the people who were identified as suspects. Moreover, the episode features interviews with the law enforcement officials who worked diligently on the case.
Jacquelyn Smith Died From Multiple Stab Wounds at the Hospital
On July 4, 1964, Jacquelyn Anne Smith arrived as a blessing in the lives of Anna Trisvane/Trisvan and her partner. Growing up in Rhode Island, she was always showered with immense love and attention by her parents. Over time, she developed a strong bond with her brother, Marcel Trisvan, and sister, Yzonne Saab. People who knew Jacquelyn often described her as a generous, determined, and independent woman who loved making friends. Moreover, she was dedicated to her studies, helping her graduate from Classical High School. Jacquelyn then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1987.
Jacquelyn began her professional journey as an Engineer at the Navy Research Center in Newport. Over the years, she served in several roles, including working as a Contractor for the Department of Defense at Huntington Ingalls Industries. Furthermore, she was a Contractor at the Joint Program Executive Office for Radiological, Biological, Chemical, and Nuclear Defense. Finally, Jacquelyn became an Engineer at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a military installation in Maryland. While studying at the university, she entered a relationship that led to her first marriage. In the next few years, they welcomed their sons, Kendall and David Hood. Sadly, Jacquelyn and her partner gradually drifted apart, resulting in their divorce.
Jacquelyn believed she had found a second chance at love when she crossed paths with Keith Smith. Shortly after dating, they tied the knot sometime around 2014. It led her to welcome her stepdaughter, Valeria Smith, into her life. In the early hours of December 1, 2018, Keith called 911 and alleged that a panhandler near the intersection of Valley and Chase Streets in East Baltimore had stabbed Jacquelyn, and that he was taking her to the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Shortly after, the 54-year-old succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. When officials rushed to the location Keith mentioned, they were unable to identify a crime scene or find any physical evidence. However, they discovered that her belongings were missing. The autopsy determined that Jacquelyn’s cause of death was multiple stab wounds.
Digital Records and CCTV Footage Led to the Arrest of the Suspects
When officials initially questioned Keith, he informed them that he, Jacquelyn, and Valeria were returning home in the early hours of December 1, 2018, after celebrating his daughter’s birthday. In his statements, he and Valeria claimed that at around 12:30 am, he was driving through Baltimore with the 54-year-old in the passenger seat when a woman approached the car with her baby and asked for money, according to reports. Keith and his daughter then went on to say that shortly after Jacquelyn rolled down the window and gave money to the woman, a man who was a panhandler approached and stabbed her multiple times through the window. As per police records, Keith and Valeria alleged that the panhandler fled the scene with Jacquelyn’s belongings.
However, when authorities searched the area, they found no evidence to support Keith and Valeria’s claims. During another interrogation, they elaborated on the details of the route they had taken on that fateful night. Investigative records suggest that when detectives checked multiple CCTV cameras along the route, none captured his car passing through the area. When digital forensic experts checked Valeria’s cellphone records, they found that her phone had placed her at Druid Hill Park for about 12 to 16 minutes, but neither the father nor the daughter had mentioned it. Moreover, their Google account data contradicted certain portions of their claimed journey.
According to police search warrant documents obtained during the investigation, an acquaintance claimed that Keith’s brother, Vick Smith, mentioned that Keith had once asked for assistance to “get rid of” Jacquelyn. However, it is essential to note that these allegations were not substantiated with evidence and are based on secondary hearsay. Keith was never charged with criminal solicitation. Official records further revealed that the detectives used wiretaps, through which they learned that Keith was exploring ways to leave the country. On March 3, 2019, he and Valeria were arrested in Harlingen, Texas, near the US-Mexico border. Keith was charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, assault, and weapons offenses. Valeria was initially charged with first-degree murder.
Keith Smith Remains Incarcerated at a Maryland Prison Facility Today
In September 2019, Valeria avoided a jury trial by entering into a plea agreement with the prosecution. She pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact in the murder of Jacquelyn and agreed to testify against Keith. Her father’s jury trial began in December 2021, during which the prosecution argued that he had deliberately stabbed his wife in Druid Hill Park and later claimed that a panhandler had committed the crime. In addition to producing several pieces of digital evidence, they introduced Valeria as a witness. She testified that she was sitting in the back seat of Keith’s car when he stabbed Jacquelyn.
In her testimony, Valeria further stated that Keith had instructed her to support the account about the panhandler. On the other hand, the defense contended that inconsistencies in his statements didn’t necessarily indicate that he had committed the crime. They further questioned the credibility of Valeria’s statements and insisted that the prosecution had not established a proper link between Keith and the murder. On December 9, 2021, he was finally found guilty of first-degree murder and carrying a weapon openly with the intent to injure.
Four days later, Valeria was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with 5 years suspended. The court also ordered her to complete 3 years of supervised probation after serving her prison term. In February 2022, Keith was sentenced to life in prison for murder and received a concurrent 3-year term for the second charge. Although he later appealed his conviction and sentencing, the court upheld his judgment on October 27, 2022. As of writing, Keith is serving his sentence at the Western Correctional Institution in Cresaptown, Maryland. Currently, Valeria is most likely out on parole, given the fact that she was eligible for parole consideration shortly after her sentencing, along with the condition that she serves three years of supervised probation upon release.
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