A Minnesota court has released audio from the night Byron Smith shot and killed two teenage cousins who had broken into his home. He found himself searching for items he at first assumed he had mislaid but later came to believe had been stolen'. Yet on the steps of Morrison County Court, prosecutor Pete Orput said that if Smith had called in police just once across that summer the double killings could have been prevented. Little Falls is about 100 . It took the jury just three hours to convict Smith on all counts of premeditated murder in the first degree in Morrison County Courthouse, Little Falls. Smith, 65, claimed. I think Ive solved the break-ins, he said. Please reset your password. The jury was asked to leave the courtroom Thursday, before Meshbesher moved for acquittal and asked the court to find the defendant not guilty and to dismiss the states case. Smith fired into the 18-year-old four more times six times in total and shot number five was the one that proved fatal. This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. 0. Jurors saw autopsy results on the bodies of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and 17-year-old Nick Brady, including graphic pictures of their wounds. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Surveillance video shows Byron Smith, Nick Brady & Haile Kifer before the deadly encounter at Smith's home May 16, 2014. On April 29, 2014, he was found guilty of two counts of premeditated first-degree murder. Thats possible, but six shots were fired, said Mills, adding that Kifer sustained six gunshot wounds. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Haile Elaine Kifer I found on Findagrave.com. Keep it Clean. Failed to report flower. Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota, USA. It was fired at close range from the 22 caliber revolver. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. On November 22 (Thanksgiving Day), 2012, Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nicholas Brady, 17, broke into the home of Byron David Smith in Little Falls, Minnesota. Kifer and Brady were part of that group as were close friends of theirs subsequently called in front of the Grand Jury. Blaine/Spring Lake Park/Columbia Heights/Fridley Life, Mille Lacs Messenger/Aitkin Independent Age, County employees honored for years of service, UPDATED: Name of Little Falls woman killed in crash released, Little Falls address issue of late utility payments, Knitting the gift of love, one hat at a time. Bradys head showed what she called pseudo-stippling, abnormal injuries you get with shrapnel, she said, likely from the bones in his hands. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Living Hope Assembly of God Church, 17389 Haven Road, Little Falls, MN. A third gunshot wound found on Kifers body was on the right side of the neck, with soot around the wound. She said in this instance, it appeared as though the barrel was from up against the skin to within six inches. She was a very competitive person in all her sporting events competing even when she was injured. cemeteries found in Todd County, Minnesota, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Some of you might think that sounds a lot like deer hunting, he said. Don't Threaten. He used to leave his door unlocked and he let those kids run in and out of his house that summer.. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The direction of the wound was from front to back, left to right and slightly downward with no exit wound. at funeral home 4-8 p.m. Fri. Nov. 30 & 1 hour prior to Services: 10 a.m. The retired State Department employee worked for Homeland Securities for 16 years. ODN. Brady and his 18-year-old cousin Haile Kifer "died horribly," she said. That bullet traveled through the soft tissue of Kifers neck, a portion of the left tonsil and into the skull, it damaged the brain stem and went into various portions of the brain, where Mills recovered multiple minute fragments. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Good Housekeeping. Smith began routinely wearing a holster with a loaded gun inside his home, as well as stashing bottles of water and granola bars in his basement. Brent Matzke, a BCA forensic scientist, provided information on DNA collected from items taken from the crime scene. Or might they simply have understood more clearly how a man whose life had been devoted to civic duty, service and protecting others unraveled so catastrophically and irreversibly? This account has been disabled. Selena autopsy photo. Those kids drove him goofy.. Although the intake photo was taken straight on, Mills explained Kifers head was going off to one side. That wound determined to be the final wound, had soot said Mills. Are those marks evidence of attempted suicide? Meshbesher asked. Jurors saw autopsy results on the bodies of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and 17-year-old Nick Brady, including graphic pictures of their wounds. Those papers, said Luberts, were scanned into the file at the Morrison County Sheriffs office. Mills indicated there was no black material around the wound and no gunpowder stippling as seen on Brady. According to Mr Anderson, with each passing day after that 27 October break-in Smith became more and more on edge. She waited 12 seconds for a response that would never come before going down the steps and another shot rang out. Other marks on Kifers body Mills was asked about included 66 cut marks on her arms. Period," said Daly. In other testimony Thursday, April 24, Smiths neighbor William Anderson was questioned about a visit he had with Smith the morning of Nov. 22, 2012. Mills agreed that if a person had acted in self defense, or in defense of home when shooting another, that manner of death would still be called multiple gunshot wounds, homicide.. Try again later. Kifer was fully dressed, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, with blood visible on her hip and face. Brady was found dead on Friday alongside cousin Haile Kifer, 18 Byron Smith, 64, charged with second-degree murder 'after telling police he shot more times than necessary because Kifer. He was an Eagle Scout and active member in the organization statewide. The state asked the court to deny the motion. Mills said gun residue was visible on the glove. Dr. Kelly Mills, with the Ramsey County Medical. The trajectory of that shot she described as from front to back, and went straight, not upward or downward in his head. [12] Brady's sister claimed Brady stole drugs from her home on August 28, a case that was still under investigation at the time of Brady's killing. 1:22. John F. Kennedy autopsy photo (#1) 0. [17], Following the shootings, Smith made a number of statements, including: "I am not a bleeding heart liberal. The bullet she said continued on into the liver and went through the right side of the chest wall. [16] Sheriff Wetzel said that "The law doesn't permit you to execute somebody once a threat is gone. racist or sexually-oriented language. There is little dispute that the two teens, Nicholas Brady, 17, and Haile Kifer, 18, broke in the Minnesota home of Byron Smith, 64, on Thanksgiving Day. Then Lodge Chief Alex Baumgartner recalled: He was incredibly knowledgeable and contributed so much. "[6] Hamline University School of Law professor Joseph Olson said, "I think the first shot is justified. (Photo: David Joles) The Byron David Smith killings occurred on November 22 (Thanksgiving Day), 2012, when Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nicholas Brady, 17, broke into the home of Byron David . each comment to let us know of abusive posts. She has attended Little Falls schools and was currently in her senior year. The California Institute of Abnormalarts is a nightclub and sideshow museum located in North Hollywood, California. "[21], Following his conviction and sentence of life imprisonment, Smith appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court. [4] The audio recordings were named by the jurors as the biggest influence on their decision. Sorry! For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Palm Springs residents sue to remove 25-foot Marilyn Monroe statue depicting her iconic My Daily Horoscope: What does 2nd March hold for MY star sign? She pointed out blood on his face and on the left side of his neck. Verify and try again. Exactly 6 years ago, on November 22, 2012, Byron David Smith, 64, armed with a Ruger Mini-14, shot Nicholas Brady, 17 and his cousin Haile Kifer, 18. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Jurors viewed autopsy photos Thursday that showed the teens' injuries, as Smith sat still and stared at the photos projected on a screen. Indeed, Brady may have broken into Deputy Jamie Luberts advised him to add security lights to the property exterior though, as Mr Anderson pointed out, all the break-ins and vandalism happened in broad daylight. Be Truthful. Error! Mills said she didnt know how large or how the scars were created or when, but they could have been self-inflicted, but she didnt know what kind of instrument would have created the scars. The outhouse on his land was crammed with the fruits of his eccentric world shopping. His castle. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison without parole. As Mills testified about the wounds found on Bradys and Kifers bodies during the initial autopsy Nov. 24, 2012, the prosecution projected large, graphic photos of the wounds taken during the autopsy. A photo depicted the exit wound of this gunshot on Bradys right side. The murders of Haile Kifer and Nicholas Brady occurred on Thanksgiving Day of 2012, when Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nicholas Brady, 17, broke into the home of 64-year-old Byron David Smith in Little Falls, Minnesota, in the United States.Smith shot the teens separately and 10 minutes apart as they entered the basement where he was, later stating to police he was worried about them being . Haile Elaine Kifer. [4], Smith (born June 11, 1948) was retired from the U.S. State Department. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? She was popular and kind, according to friends, well liked but latterly she had begun struggling with drugs. Walking with him one day, discussing trees and Monarch caterpillars and other wildlife matters on his land, Mr Anderson recalled; There was a flash of light from the house. A close-up of the wound on the right side of his face was projected, as she explained the wound was large and irregular, typical of a re-entry wound. Meshbesher asked whether the drug could cause hallucinations and Mills said yes, in chronic abusers. Success! Nicholas Brady, 17, and his cousin, Haile Kifer, 18, were killed in the Little Falls home of Byron Smith, who has since been charged with murder. [7] Prior to the break-in, he is heard saying "In your left eye." Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Once opened, she found Brady fully clothed in jeans, T-shirt and camouflage jacket and wrapped in a tarp. A door panel had been kicked in during a previous burglary at Byron Smith's house. Among the more personal items taken was a gold watch that his father, Edwin, received in recognition for this time as a POW in World War II and Smiths own service medals and awards. Then said to him, Youre dead, Chilling: Within 18 seconds Smith had the tarp ready to lay out and roll the body onto. Nicholas Nick Brady, age 17, of Randall, MN, died Thursday, November 22, 2012. She said that gunshot would re-enter Bradys body in the left region of his abdomen. Signup today! very rapidly in fear. Mills said she first removed the bags, documented (photographed) the hand wounds and collected forensic evidence from them. Mills indicated that she used reports on the clothing of the deceased from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), but to determine sequence of the gun firing, she listened to the audio to determine when Brady stopped making vocal patterns. Smith shot Brady twice on the stairs, and once in the head after he fell to the bottom of the stairs. But as the details of the crime emerged the groundswell of support that Smith, 64, initially enjoyed among many in the 8,300 community who had seen him as homeowner victim was rocked. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Within ten minutes he managed to reload. 0 cemeteries found in Todd County, Minnesota, USA. Learn more about managing a memorial . His friend Bill Anderson told MailOnline that he had become unhinged after a spate of thefts on his property. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. There is that possibility, said Mills. When a photo of a handprint on top of a wooden box in Smiths room was shown, Luberts said that while he had observed the handprint, it looked more like a smudge than a regular hand-down handprint and he believed he didnt see enough detail to lift a print off of it. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Smith then waited in silence for 12 minutes, until Brady began to descend into the basement. Kifer had a black glove on her left hand. Mills said Kifer had been tested with the same drug panel as Brady, but that since the drug had not been found in Bradys urine, it was not tested for in his blood. [5] He was never married and lived alone. In a statement given to law enforcement following the shootings, Anderson had said he didnt remember exactly what Smith had said, but it was like, There goes the bitch.. Bright: Pictures of Kifer in 2010 and 2011 show a wholesome, smiling girl who was a member of the swimteam, a keen cross country runner, a flag for the school marching band and part of the mixed choir, Haile Kifer's last yearbook pic 2012 she would have graduated the following year. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. First gun residue was collected. We'd love to hear eyewitness She also testified that when a body is moved from side to side, a moaning sound could be heard, and that she had heard such sounds. Whether or not Smith meant to keep his side of that bargain may never be known. A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Because as Smith calmly spoke on the phone, the bullet-riddled bodies of Nick Brady, 17, and Haile Kifer, 18, were lying on tarp in his workshop. He pointed out other states, such as Florida, have a "stand your ground" law, but Minnesota has what's known as a reasonable person doctrine. The second of Bradys gunshot wounds catalogued was a grazing gunshot wound on his left thumb, what she described as an open kind of wound, with no indication of soot. In a chilling surveillance video, Nick Brady, 17, and his cousin Haile Kifer, 18, can be seen casing Smith's home in Little Falls, Minn., before . and "I realize I don't have an appointment but I would like to see one of the lawyers here." Six bottles of prescription drugs and other items reported stolen Sunday from a home in Little Falls, Minn. were found in a red Mitsubishi Eclipse that was being driven by Haile Kifer, 18, and Nicholas Brady, 17, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Office. She enjoyed wrestling from kindergarten thru fifth grade and then kept stats for the wrestling team, was involved in gymnastics, diving, softball and cross country. When the kids came back looking for work the following year, Mr Anderson said, Smith said no. The T-shirt slogan was a reference to rapper and musician Wiz Khalifa who caused controversy by claiming to spend $10,000 a month on cannabis which he smokes daily. Don't knowingly lie about anyone There was so much asked about why he did that as if it was just for those kids that day. It didnt make any sense. Those in support of Brady, pictured center as a young child, and Kifer say Smith had no right to take their lives in premeditated cold blood, Kimberly Brady, mother of Nick Brady, applauded at the end of the trial and was supported by the dead teen's grandfather, Steve Schaeffel, right. Judge Douglas Anderson denied the motion immediately, and asked whether the defense wanted to make any other motions. Visitation was held from 4:00 - 8:00 pm Friday, November 30th at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service with a prayer service at 7:00 pm Visitation continued at the church on Saturday one hour prior to the service. This shot went in through the soft tissue of the neck, behind the voice box, into the right portion of the cervical column where it fragmented, Mills said. Some clouds. Jurors convicted Byron Smith, 65, and a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing 18-year-old . Haile Kifer, 18, Little Falls, died Nov. 22. This is the fatal shot, said Mills. Meshbesher asked Mills if she knew of the purse Kifer had with her, Mills didnt recall the bag and couldnt speak to the size of the bag. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Autopsy Photos. This guy was WAY too excited to pull the trigger. Try again later. But they got the lay of the house that summer.. [22] On March 9, 2016, the Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed Smith's conviction and sentence. It comes down to, what would a reasonable person see in this situation for Mr. Mills found evidence of two different guns being used in the shooting of Kifer. Share with Us. Luberts said he had determined someone had kicked in the panel and reached in and unlocked the door. The bodies of Nicholas Brady, 17, and his cousin Haile Kifer, 18, both of Little Falls, were discovered on Friday when authorities began investigating a missing-persons report and after a car . The path of this gunshot, Mills said was beyond the left eye, it went through the soft tissue of the face, the bony ridge of the left eye and into the internal bony structure of the face. Mills was not able to determine how the marijuana metabolite was ingested or how recently. He shot a second time then delivered the fatal shot to his face. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Between 1969 and 1972 he served in the Air Force working on B 52 bombers and became a nine-times decorated officer who completed a tour of Vietnam. Within moments of the jurys verdict, Judge Douglas Anderson handed down a sentence of two concurrent life sentences without hope of parole. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Meshbesher asked whether a person who had sustained the first two of the gunshot wounds would have still been able to move. Hed been doing that every day for weeks. Please try again later. GREAT NEWS! The Ramsey County Medical Examiner testified that Kifer was shot six times and Brady three, and gave his Teens' autopsy photos shown in Minn. murder trial - MPR News Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. [12][14] Bail was later set at US$50,000 (equivalent to $58,164 in 2021), which Smith posted. "In some states, somebody breaks into your home you are allowed to shoot them dead. You can always change this later in your Account settings. It was like, the only way I can describe it is, and the fear had descended over him. The projected photo showed the area, discolored with an abrasion, and two bumps where small bullet fragments were in the wound tract. Some clouds. Luberts testified that he met with Smith in early November, when Smith gave him paperwork and a request for investigation pertaining to the items taken during the Oct. 27 burglary. 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