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| This Page is dedicated to a very special girl who made a big difference in a short time. Her name was Samantha Rhodes, but my son called her Sam!!! When I first met her, I wasn't very impressed with her. She was a typical 10 year old girl who was living between divorced parents, not really staying with either parent too long before wanting to go or being sent back to the other one. She seemed way too street smart for a girl her age, and yet so naive at the same time. She quickly became my daughter, Lori's best friend, and on down the line developed a big crush on my son, Billy. LOL!!! As a year or so went on, I could tell Sam wasn't as tough as she wanted everyone to believe, but instead, she was a heart-broken, sensitive little girl just trying to survive lifes blows. Sam and Lori became very close, spending the night by each other and ALWAYS hanging out together whenever possible. She even worked harder in school improving both her attitude and grades. She had a new little nephew she adored!!! All was going okay for her. |
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| FEBRUARY 1998 The trailer park sold out and we had to move our trailers to different locations, but Lori and Sam continued their friendship and started Junior High together. In March of 1998 during spring break, something happened that changed our lives FOREVER!!! Sam had called Lori to see if they could spend the day together, but with all the unpacking and all, Lori said that she couldn't. Sam decided to go visit Shelly, a friend of the family's, who had two small children, Taylor 3 years old, and Sean Michael, 5 years old. The rest of the story is from police, family, etc. |
| March 25, 1998 Sam was supposed to be staying the weekend with Shelly and the kids. She called her Dad's house Saturday evening and said that they were going to go skating the next day and that she would be by later that evening to get some money. First they were going to check on Misty Erwin, Shelly's cousin, who was having domestic problems with her live-in boyfriend, Clay-King Smith. When she didn't show up for money that evening, and no one had heard from Sam or Shelly, Sam's Dad went looking for them. |
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| March 26, 1998 He found Shelly's car at Misty's house, but no one answered the door and the next day they were all still missing. James went back to the house with the police and upon entering, they found a scene I would hope no family should ever have to find!!! Misty's and Shelly's bodieswere found in the front room by the front door and the three children's bodies were all found in the rear bedroom. All were shot to death!!! A hunt went out for Clay-King Smith who led officers on a big chase and then shot himself in the arm (Big Deal!!!) in Star City before being arrested. He later told officers he was under the influance of drugs and alcohol. When he went to the trailer, a big argument broke out. He first shot Misty, then Shelly in the front of the trailer. He then wentto the back bedroom and shot the five year old girl while Sam was trying to protect them. Then he open fired on Sam and the three year old boy. Sam suffered three shots. She was found laying over the boy. and holding the girl!!! |
| August 15, 1998 Sam became a teen-angel instead of a teenager. Every March they have a graveside candlelight service and every August, they have one for her birthday. |
| April 1999 Clay-King Smith was found guilty of 5 counts of first degree capitol murder and was sentenced to death by lethal injection!!! |
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| ~MY OWN OPINION~ I don't know how a scheduled death by an IV compares to the deaths he caused!!! They didn't have the opportunity to know when they were going to die. He does!!! I'm just glad I am not in his shoes and have to answer to God when his time is up. Sam and the others will not be forgotten. I hope by writing this, you or someone you know who is suffering from domestic violence (no matter physical or mental) please take note and GET OUT!!! IT DOESN'T GET BETTER AND IT DOESN'T GO AWAY!!! I have been a victim, I know!!! That's what Misty told the deputies the day before this happened when her Dad sent them to get her out of there. Twenty-four hours later, she and four other innocent people were dead!!! Sam loved all creatures, each one representing a hope or dream she and the other children will never get to live. The tragedy was a storm that eventully weakens, but will never go away every time we think of what he took away!!! |
| May 5, 2001 Our local paper ran several articles today from the families of the victims about the scheduled Tuesday, 5/8/2001 execution of Clay-King Smith. Clay-King Smith claims he will not appeal his death sentence unless the families want him to. (I don't see that happening.) He says he has made peace with God and will be going to heaven. (??????) He still refuses to give any details or answer any questions to help put the familie's mind at ease. Instead he sent each family sermons and weird pictures!!! As I write this he has about 36 more hours to live. That is more than Sam and the others have. |
| Tuesday, May 8, 2001 We are all closely watching the news to see if the last minute, Clay-King Smith will back out of his promise not to appeal his death sentence. Nine o'clock word comes in that he gives his final statement. "I have made peace with God and am ready to be reunited with Misty!!!" (Yeah, right.) 9 P.M. they start the drip. 9:04 HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD!!! |
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| + + + Let it be noted + + + ~DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EFFECTS EVERYONE~ I 100% believe he got what he deserved!!! Yet my sympathy goes out to his Mom and family for their loss!!! I was also a victim of severe domestic violence. It cost me my eyesight, (ABOUT 75%), my job, my career, and almost my life. If you or anyone you know needs to talk or needs help, I am just a click away at: [email protected] |
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