Found Deceased AK - Kathleen Henry, 30, video of murder victim found, Anchorage, 9 Oct 2019 *Arrest*

[Merzerie]

Wow!

He confessed.

"According to a bail memo, Smith spoke with detectives after his arrest and admitted he was the man shown in the videos assaulting Henry, that he disposed Henry's body along the Seward Highway.

During that interview, he also told investigators that between 2017 and 2018 he shot a woman. He then provided the location of where he disposed of her body. When detectives showed him a photo of Abouchuk, he identified her as the woman he shot.

Authorities involved in the case have declined to say whether they believe there are more victims."

Plus:
“…sometime between 2017-2018, at or near Anchorage, BRIAN STEVEN SMITH engaged in sexual penetration of a corpse.”

Sicko.

How many more are there, was my first thought.

WOW!

 

[Curious Me]

I wonder if she knew where he was heading when he was arrested.

"Brian Steven Smith, a 48-year-old reportedly from South Africa, was arrested at Ted Stevens International Airportafter investigators linked him to the crime."

Alaska murder mystery twist: Memory card found along road shows man assaulting and killing woman, cops say

I don't know. I had to go hunt down the news article with some of the wife's comments. That statement bolded by me confuses me. Were they both going to Virginia the day someone found the memory card?

A hotel murder caught on video, and unanswered questions about why

"Smith's wife, Stephanie Bissland, told KTUU Friday that she's "horrified" by the charges. It is difficult to comprehend that her husband might have been hiding something so dark, she said."

"Bissland first learned of the investigation when police officers found her vacationing in Virginia and said they needed to speak with her. She said they didn't say outright what was going on, and instead asked her a series of questions. Things like, was she procuring girls for Smith? Had she traveled alone on specific dates? Had she ever sat in a parked vehicle at Mountain View Lions Park with her husband?"

"Bissland said it became evident they suspected her husband had been cheating on her."

"It seems to me they've been looking at him a long time," she told KTUU."

"She told police she'd never provided women to her husband, and never suspected anything was amiss."

"If he's guilty of the murder, Bissland said she wouldn't defend her husband's actions. But she wants more information, and a chance to speak with him directly."

Some aspects of the case don't make much sense to her. Among them, why did a memory card get found the day they left for vacation? Also curious to her, she said, is the labeling on the SD card - "homicide at midtown Marriott."

 

[Merzerie]

I wonder if she knew where he was heading when he was arrested.

"Brian Steven Smith, a 48-year-old reportedly from South Africa, was arrested at Ted Stevens International Airportafter investigators linked him to the crime."

Alaska murder mystery twist: Memory card found along road shows man assaulting and killing woman, cops say

I believe he was returning from a trip with his wife to Virginia so no not leaving the country. He was returning before her because he was starting a new job at some Marriott

 

[Elainera]

Exactly. I can't imagine that these are the only two.

He confessed and yet he pled not guilty. He's in the video and he told them where to find the other body and yet he pleads not guilty. OK then.....

Maybe he plans to argue along the lines of psychotic break or something?

 

[musicaljoke]

Looks like they are going back over his travel history as well -

Defendant in hotel killing indicted on additional charges; FBI ‘actively’ assisting investigation

“This homicide investigation is ongoing and involves the cooperation of numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” wrote assistant district attorney Heather Nobrega in a filing asking that the warrants be sealed.

“Release to the public would compromise the investigation in Alaska and “possibly in other jurisdictions.””

The earlier article mentioned that he has been in Alaska since 2013. He immigrated from South Africa, but it's not clear to me if he went directly to Alaska, or if he lived somewhere else for a period.

Immigrating from S.Africa to Alaska can't be terribly common. I wonder if he was running from similar crimes committed in South Africa.

Defendant in hotel killing indicted on additional charges; FBI ‘actively’ assisting investigation

 

[LadyL]

I believe he was returning from a trip with his wife to Virginia so no not leaving the country. He was returning before her because he was starting a new job at some Marriott

oooohhh
I thought he was leaving

 

[Merzerie]

oooohhh
I thought he was leaving

I think though that he has def left a tail of dead bodies possible back in South Africa for one.

 

[musicaljoke]

I don't know. I had to go hunt down the news article with some of the wife's comments. That statement bolded by me confuses me. Were they both going to Virginia the day someone found the memory card?

A hotel murder caught on video, and unanswered questions about why

"Smith's wife, Stephanie Bissland, told KTUU Friday that she's "horrified" by the charges. It is difficult to comprehend that her husband might have been hiding something so dark, she said."

"Bissland first learned of the investigation when police officers found her vacationing in Virginia and said they needed to speak with her. She said they didn't say outright what was going on, and instead asked her a series of questions. Things like, was she procuring girls for Smith? Had she traveled alone on specific dates? Had she ever sat in a parked vehicle at Mountain View Lions Park with her husband?"

"Bissland said it became evident they suspected her husband had been cheating on her."

"It seems to me they've been looking at him a long time," she told KTUU."

"She told police she'd never provided women to her husband, and never suspected anything was amiss."

"If he's guilty of the murder, Bissland said she wouldn't defend her husband's actions. But she wants more information, and a chance to speak with him directly."

Some aspects of the case don't make much sense to her. Among them, why did a memory card get found the day they left for vacation? Also curious to her, she said, is the labeling on the SD card - "homicide at midtown Marriott."

From the questions directed at the suspect's wife, it sounds like police have video of him in a parked car with a woman at Mountain View Lions Park, and are attempting to identify the woman. imo

 

[Merzerie]

The earlier article mentioned that he has been in Alaska since 2013. He immigrated from South Africa, but it's not clear to me if he went directly to Alaska, or if he lived somewhere else for a period.

Immigrating from S.Africa to Alaska can't be terribly common. I wonder if he was running from similar crimes committed in South Africa.

Defendant in hotel killing indicted on additional charges; FBI ‘actively’ assisting investigation

I think he was and I think he probably met his wife online and it just happened to be she lived in Alaska so he took what he could get.

 

[DEB-Z]

BBM

Oh really???
As someone said before, this was probably just the tip of the iceberg.
I keep wondering about the investigation his voice was recognized from... It must have been something recent (or perhaps similar), since his accent immediately rang a bell?!

JMO

Perhaps it could be another case, or just the reporting of his truck window being broken into with all the electronics inside of it stolen...
The officer that took the truck break in report could have remembered his accent...

 

[Elainera]

I think though that he has def left a tail of dead bodies possible back in South Africa for one.

They must be speaking to LE in SA now I assume? Comparing his dna to dna found on murder victims or at crime scenes there, showing his photo to potential witnesses or survivors, etc?

 

[Merzerie]

“…sometime between 2017-2018, at or near Anchorage, BRIAN STEVEN SMITH engaged in sexual penetration of a corpse”

Meaning the girl he shot? I believe it was both of them by the sounds of it. Unfortunately the first girl didn’t get found for quite some time so it’s harder for them to get much info about the crime except from what he says or if they find photo evidence on his other memory cards...

How would you like that job! Searching his memory cards, phone and computer etc...

 

[Aydrianna523]

I believe he was returning from a trip with his wife to Virginia so no not leaving the country. He was returning before her because he was starting a new job at some Marriott

Thx. I have trouble putting it all together.

 

[Curious Me]

Plus:
“…sometime between 2017-2018, at or near Anchorage, BRIAN STEVEN SMITH engaged in sexual penetration of a corpse.”

Sicko.

How many more are there, was my first thought.

Brian Smith now indicted in the murders of 2 Alaska Native women

“…sometime between 2017-2018, at or near Anchorage, BRIAN STEVEN SMITH engaged in sexual penetration of a corpse.” What? ​

His poor wife thought he was a good husband? She may have wondered if he'd been with someone else while they were married, but she probably never imagined he'd been having sex with a corpse then coming home to her.

Shot one woman, beat and stomped another woman to death. I wonder if he made a video of the one found shot. I agree with all of you here, there's probably more.

Got a feeling this is going to be hard and confusing to follow. He may have traveled and killed like Israel Keyes.

 

[Merzerie]

They must be speaking to LE in SA now I assume? Comparing his dna to dna found on murder victims or at crime scenes there, showing his photo to potential witnesses or survivors, etc?

They appear to be doing a great job, working so quickly at all of this. Closing in so strategically. And the quick identification of those photos. It’s just amazing someone found that footage and turned it in. Without it who knows if he would have even been caught. I do wonder though from what other investigation it was where they recognized his accent. Definitely bringing to light some social issues as well.

 

[Safeguard]

Wow. I'm speechless!

What on earth produces these inhuman beings!

They have Mothers, Wives, Children(sometimes) ...

What Evil is there in this world that even the most insane would, desire, enjoy torturing people? And why can't we tell earlier?

It makes me feel like vomiting just reading about. How do these people go unnoticed for so long?! Surely people who could enjoy such a thing as a hobby, pastime, compulsion or what have you, have exhibited odd behavior long before reaches this point?

 

[GoJacks]

Would venture to guess more murder charges will be coming as well.

They said they were investigating him BEFORE this card was found. Unlikely that it had to do with either of these 2 murders....

 

[PatLaurel]

Wow!

He confessed.

Plus:
“…sometime between 2017-2018, at or near Anchorage, BRIAN STEVEN SMITH engaged in sexual penetration of a corpse.”

Sicko.

How many more are there, was my first thought.

SBM&BBM



We can't judge a book by its cover, but... This photo said it all!

Sicko times infinite!

Edited to add link to the photo.

Anchorage man accused of killing woman at hotel pleads not guilty

 

[Curious Me]

Surprised he confessed to both. Why do you figure he did confess? Wouldn't it have served him better to wait for a chance at a plea deal before providing the location of the woman he shot?

Does Anchorage have a large population of homeless women? They mentioned something like that in the video. Do you think these two killings were racist?

He had a tiny smile for a moment in that news video. Normally he looks spooky, a little off his rocker, or that's what he's aiming to portray now. His wife didn't seem to notice any blatant tell-tale signs which means he must be a shape shifting deviant smart enough to hide it.

Are any of you from Alaska?

Brian Smith now indicted in the murders of 2 Alaska Native women

"According to a bail memo, Smith spoke with detectives after his arrest and admitted he was the man shown in the videos assaulting Henry, that he disposed Henry's body along the Seward Highway."

"During that interview, he also told investigators that between 2017 and 2018 he shot a woman. He then provided the location of where he disposed of her body. When detectives showed him a photo of Abouchuk, he identified her as the woman he shot."

"Authorities involved in the case have declined to say whether they believe there are more victims."

 

[Tealgrove]

Surprised he confessed to both. Why do you figure he did confess? Wouldn't it have served him better to wait for a chance at a plea deal before providing the location of the woman he shot?

Does Anchorage have a large population of homeless women? They mentioned something like that in the video. Do you think these two killings were racist?

He had a tiny smile for a moment in that news video. Normally he looks spooky, a little off his rocker, or that's what he's aiming to portray now. His wife didn't seem to notice any blatant tell-tale signs which means he must be a shape shifting deviant smart enough to hide it.

Are any of you from Alaska?

Brian Smith now indicted in the murders of 2 Alaska Native women

"According to a bail memo, Smith spoke with detectives after his arrest and admitted he was the man shown in the videos assaulting Henry, that he disposed Henry's body along the Seward Highway."

"During that interview, he also told investigators that between 2017 and 2018 he shot a woman. He then provided the location of where he disposed of her body. When detectives showed him a photo of Abouchuk, he identified her as the woman he shot."

"Authorities involved in the case have declined to say whether they believe there are more victims."

I think he confessed because he was faced with indisputable evidence and he knew the jig was up.

With respect to why he chose two Native women, I think the answer is that they were available and vulnerable. The number of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada is staggering. I'm thinking the same problem exists in Alaska. The cycle of poverty, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse puts these women in extremely vulnerable and risky situations.

When I first heard about this, I knew immediately it was going to be an indigenous woman. I don't think it's a racist thing but I could be wrong. I think it was just plain easy based on the reasons mentioned above.

MOO