GA GA - Nacole Smith, 14, raped and murdered walking to school, Atlanta, 9 Feb 1995

[Legally Bland]

Jun 7, 2019

Every June, Acqunellia Smith places purple balloons in this wooded area off Campbellton Road. It’s here, her 14-year-old daughter Nacole Smith took her last breath.

“I knew this day was coming again every year, it's coming. The birthdays are coming. And it's hard to deal with,” she said.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of Nacole’s death. She was brutally raped and beaten, and shot twice in the head as she walked to school.

[...]

But this year, Smith has a new sliver of hope this could change. She said investigators recently told her they are using familial DNA to track down the killer. The technique scans criminal databases to see if genetic DNA from a suspect's relatives can make a connection.

[...]

For years Smith searched for the killer on her own. She would scan crowds at nightclubs looking for the man police described as a black male, in his early 30's, wearing round gold framed glasses and a gap in his front teeth.

“They would call me pistol packing mom cause I had this pouch I would carry my gun in and I was looking for this person,” she said.

New DNA search could solve teen’s 1995 murder

 

[Legally Bland]

Sep 9, 2019


It’s been 15 years since the public has seen a sketch of what the suspect looks like.


In 2004, a 13-year-old East Point girl was pulled into the woods and raped but survived.

DNA from the attacker later linked the two cases.

The original black-and-white sketch was based on the victim's description.

CBS46 teamed up with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s forensic artist Kelly Lawson, who sketched an age-progression from the original depiction of a black man in his early 30s, wearing round framed glasses and a gap in his front teeth.

CSI Atlanta exclusive: New sketch of killer in 1995 murder of Nacole Smith may bring new leads

 

[Legally Bland]

Feb 7, 2020

In 2004, a 13-year-old girl was raped in East Point and survived her attacker. DNA from the crime was later linked to DNA found in Nacole’s case.

Smith said now, she's waiting for DNA results from Atlanta Police Department, who told her genetic genealogy is being used. The results make take up to eight months.

"I'm very hopeful that justice will be served," she said.

Mom continues to fight for justice, 25 years after daughter's murder

 

[Legally Bland]

I think this documentary is from 2005:

 

[PayrollNerd]

If they’ve already matched this creep to two cases, I’m betting theres more. I hope he is still living so he can be outed and prevent more victims.

 

[ForensicDigger]

I saw this on cold case files and they were trying to figure out a shortcut in CODIS. First thing I thought was wow, GEDmatch is really what they need. Low and behold, they are after it. Hope the family gets justice and the person is caught. My guess is there are more victims out there. I know APD is dogged on this case to find the perpetrator though.

 

[dotr]

CSI ATLANTA PAUL HOLES
•Jul 13, 2020

Sept 10 2019 rbbm.
BREAKING: New sketch released of killer who raped, murdered 14-year-old ‘straight-A’ student as she walked to school

''On the morning of June 7, 1995, Nacole Smith, 14, took a shortcut through the woods on Childress Drive in northwest Atlanta. A killer lying in wait snatched the young girl, then brutally raped her. Afterward, he shot her in the face, killing her.''

''CBS46 crime scene investigator Sheryl ‘Mac’ McCollum is hoping to give Nacole’s family closure. She recently went back to the crime scene with CBS46, where she traced the killer’s steps and offered insight into what he was likely thinking.

“He didn’t use a vehicle. But he came prepared to murder. He had a weapon on him, and that weapon was loaded, and he chose to use it when I believe Nacole fought with him,” McCollum told renowned CBS46 investigative journalist, Karyn Greer.''
''McCollum pointed out that anyone in the vicinity could have noticed the killer during the 1996 attack. Although it was in the woods, the area was and still is surrounded by heavy traffic. McCollum called the man a “rapist of opportunity” and someone familiar with the area.''

''At the time, the suspect was described as a black male with a medium complexion, in his late 20s to early 30s. He stands around 5-feet-10 inches tall and in 2004, may have weighed around 190 pounds. He had a gap in his front teeth and wore wearing gold-framed, round glasses.
The suspect is now in his late 40s or early 50s and could be balding.


“We want people to share this new age-progression composite all over social media,” Greer said. “We know someone knows something about Nacole’s murder and we are begging them to come forward and bring some closure to her grieving family.”

 

[dotr]

Sorry for posting so much, but this case is outrageous- the son of a gun shot that young straight A student in the face, imo, that shows a true nastiness and hate for girls. What a coward, wondering if he has moved, he probably has done this sort of thing before and after Nacole. speculation.
Good video below.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Maybe he lived in the same complex and knew the girls. He may have known they’ll sometimes cut thru the woods. He had to be watching from somewhere to lie in wait for them to pass thru.

 

[dotr]

ETA Just a thought, but maybe the perp was not worried about getting caught because he had an accomplice keeping watch?
Beaten, raped and shot twice in the face and yet seemed unconcerned that others might see him!
Did he work in the area, maybe wearing an outfit/uniform that would make him seem somewhat familiar, but hard to actually remember his face?
imo. rbbm.
CSI Atlanta exclusive: New sketch of killer in 1995 murder of Nacole Smith may bring new leads
''The 14-year-old was shot twice in the face and found in a wooded area off Campbellton Road – less than a mile from her home.

“I touched her on her neck to see if there were any signs of life and there wasn't any,” he said.

She’d been raped and beaten.''

''CBS46 and McCollum went back to the crime scene to see how this vicious attack could happen in daylight, in a heavily trafficked neighborhood.

“If I was to do something to you right now, you could see the cars, you can see the people which means they can see you if they look,” she said.

“We know that he has a type which is young, under 15 years old, African-American females that are alone, that are in a neighborhood near their home and previously had been with other people,” she said.

McCollum said the suspect wasn’t concerned about who saw him – he was brazen in his attack.''

 

[ForensicDigger]

Maybe he lived in the same complex and knew the girls. He may have known they’ll sometimes cut thru the woods. He had to be watching from somewhere to lie in wait for them to pass thru.

Why did he kill Nacole but leave the other young lady alive? I think he knew Nacole and killed her to silence her. Probably lived in the same complex and saw an opportunity. Seems like it was out of her normal pattern to go back home and grab her school project. So sad, true completely innocent victim just trying to be responsible and get to school

 

[PayrollNerd]

Why did he kill Nacole but leave the other young lady alive? I think he knew Nacole and killed her to silence her. Probably lived in the same complex and saw an opportunity. Seems like it was out of her normal pattern to go back home and grab her school project. So sad, true completely innocent victim just trying to be responsible and get to school

I bet he didn’t plan it that way. The 2004 survivor out smarted him and likely made him realize he will eventually be caught. I can’t believe these are his only 2 crimes. I hope any young lady in his life has an opportunity to come forward if she is being abused. JMO

 

[CastlesBurning]

Cold case of 14-year-old girl who was beaten, raped and killed, reopened 26 years later

ATLANTA (CBS46) -- The case of a 14-year-old girl beaten, raped, then shot and killed more than two decades ago is getting another look

by the Fulton County District Attorney's Office. And officials say they are 'praying' this is the year it will be solved.

Monday marked exactly 26 years since the brutal beating and murder of Nacole Smith.

The teen was walking to school in Southwest Atlanta but turned back around after forgetting an assignment. She cut through the nearby wooded area, where police say she was attacked.

"So what kind of mom would I be if I don't fight to bring this guy to justice," cried Acquanela Smith.

The mother began a fight that has never stopped: a painful search for answers just as raw as the gruesome day of her daughter's killing in 1995.

"It's just a matter of time." She repeated, "Just a matter of time [before] I'll be able to breathe again."

The Fulton County District Attorney's Office will be re-examining and testing evidence untested before.

The office is also dedicating an entire unit to cold cases now.

"The brutality in which she was treated likely was the result of the fact that she fought for her life," Assistant DA Adriane Love told

Love remains hopeful the new sampling and testing will lead to a major break in the investigation.

"I'm praying that this is year," she said.

Officials are narrowing down a suspect through genetics too as they've possibly found the offenders distant relatives. Additionally, because the suspect's DNA was connected to another attack where the victim survived, investigators believe Nacole's case is not nearly as cold as it once was. Smith is betting on that.

"So I just keep pushing and keep fighting cause I know she's watching and saying 'my mom is going to get him."

 

[Kell1]

If they’ve already matched this creep to two cases, I’m betting theres more. I hope he is still living so he can be outed and prevent more victims.

Of all the killer typologies, those who abduct , and murder children for sexual purposes, have the highest propensity to become serial offenders, and in some cases they may change victim preference from children to adults, depending on their situation

 

[dotr]

April 2020

 

[aThousandYearsWide]

I just watched the Cold Case Files episode about Nacole's murder. Was disappointed to see it is still unsolved. The leads they had seemed pretty promising.

 

[dotr]

Dec 29 2021

 

[dotr]

Dec 29 2021 rbbm
DNA evidence links man to 1995 rape, murder of 14-year-old Nacole Smith
''ATLANTA (CBS46) — The family of Nacole Smith says they now know who killed their daughter more than 26 years ago.

Acqunellia Smith, Nacole's mother, reached out to CBS46 anchor Karyn Greer Wednesday telling her a suspect has been named in her daughter's death.

Smith tells CBS46 that DNA evidence has helped identify the man who police say beat, raped, and then shot and killed her 14-year-old daughter back in 1995.


Through the use of genetic testing, and new ancestral DNA tools that were not available 25 years ago, investigators were able to find a link, and then come to a final conclusion on a suspect.

However, at this time, CBS46 is not releasing the name of the suspect, as Atlanta Police say they are following up on some new information, but not all the information has been confirmed. Police say they will announce further details in the case sometime next week.''

 

[CastlesBurning]

Suspect named in 1995 rape, murder of 14-year-old Nacole Smith

UPDATE (CBS46) — The Fulton County District Attorney's Office and the Atlanta Police Department have confirmed they have identified the man they believe is responsible for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Nacole Smith back in 1995.

A news conference was held Tuesday to provide a significant update in the case. However, authorities did not release the name of the suspect, only that he passed away in August of 2021 from liver and kidney failure.

During the press conference, Det. Vince Velazquez, who has since retired from APD and is a security consultant, talked about his involvement with the case over the years.

Velazquez says APD reopened the case in 2002 and in 2004 they got a forensic match after a 13-year-old girl was raped in East Point. However, despite their investigation, they were not able to identify a suspect at that time.

Det. Scott Demeester took up the torch after Velazquez and other veterans retired and spent hundreds of hours on the case.

Eventually, the police department was able to use genetic genealogy and match a DNA sample to the suspect. They were notified of the match just after Christmas.

Unfortunately, the suspect died in August 2021 of liver and kidney failure.

Nacole's mother spoke during the press conference. She described the confirmation of the suspect's identification as bittersweet, but said it did not bring closure. She says she still has many unanswered questions and her feelings are all over the place.

Betty Brown, who was the 13-year-old East Point girl who was raped several months after Nacole, was also at the press conference and gave an emotional statement. Betty and Nacole's mother have become close over the years.

The Atlanta Police Department announced after the press conference that Kelvin Arnold is the primary suspect in the case.

 

[dotr]

kevin arnold columbus murder - Bing images