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

[Curious Me]

2/15/2024 - 12:34 p.m. Alaska Time
Lt. Amanda Fisher 22 yrs. on force
Member of the Crime Scene Team in 2019

Her primary role was to collect video evidence of the residence where BS was living. (before evidence is taken away) She also had a role in to assign tasks for team when they went out to Room 233 at the Marriott Hotel. She explains what Blue Star testing is and what the results are when blood is there. Hema Sticks are used and they turn green in the presence of blood.​

Downstairs in the Basement. There's a large entertainment room with a bar and a couple of couches. It's quite large there's a bathroom, laundry area, a bedroom with a sewing area In closet under the stairs there were racks of firearms and ammo.​

Firearms in closet under stairs.
Laundry Area in Basement

 

[Curious Me]

Lt. Amanda Fisher testimony continued. There was also a Red Couch in the basement. LE was looking for evidence to support what BS has said about killing a woman in his basement laying on a couch. They moved the red couch and found suspected blood evidence on the floor. They also found a gun in the gun closet that matched what BS said was used. ​

 

[Curious Me]

Officer Amanda See now DV unit then Crime Scene Team. She was out at the residence to take photos. A silencer for a gun was found in the garage area. The red couch area in the basement has suspected blood stains soaked all the way through the carpeting. They took pieces of the carpet for testing. ​

Rolled up carpet with suspected blood stains down in the basement.

​

The woman BS said he killed in the basement laying on a couch. This is the possible blood evidence in the murder of Veronica Abouchuk.

The black truck photo taken as it sits in impound. There's also lots of photos of the bed & sides of the truck that were tested for blood. Duct tape in truck, a blue-black bag with gloves, etc., in it.
Two Walmart receipts dated Sept. 3, 2019, other receipts were also taken.


No Cross. Monday is a Holiday.
Court is Dismissed for the Week.
Be back on Tuesday 2/20/24 at 8:30 a.m. ​

 

[Curious Me]

From last Thursday before the long weekend break.
You can Watch Video too.

Jury shown pictures of small skeleton, curled into the fetal position in the Brian Smith murder trial

Thursday's testimony in the Brian Smith murder trial was less intense and graphic than what the jury had come to expect after previously watching and listening to video showing the last 36 minutes of Henry's life.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - When the jury in the murder trial of Brian Smith Thursday morning was shown pictures of a skeleton found along the Seward Highway, muffled crying could be heard in the courtroom.

Kleenex tissues were handed back to the gallery as pictures of a small skeleton, curled in a fetal position, were shown to the jury. The human remains were discovered by Alaska Railroad workers along a windy stretch of the highway, and in previous testimony, prosecutors have said they belong to 30-year-old Kathleen Jo Henry.

An officer with the Anchorage Police Department testified that bones were missing from parts of the hand.

“The jawbone is right here,” said Shawn Davies, pointing to a picture on a large screen behind him. “You can see teeth on the bottom part of the jawbone.”​

[...]

On Thursday afternoon, numerous law enforcement officers spoke to the jury while going over the hundreds of photos taken in the Marriott hotel room, Smith’s home and of the skeletal remains on the highway.

One of those officers was APD Lt. Amanda Fisher, who showed the jury multiple pictures of Smith’s home as well as the firearms they found there. It was in his living room that Smith said he shot Abouchuk while she lay on a red couch, telling detectives he became angry over her refusal to shower. Smith reportedly picked up Abouchuk outside a grocery store to have sex with her.

Fisher testified that during the investigation APD sprayed a substance on the carpet that turns an area a glowing blue color if blood is possibly found. After applying the substance, the carpet changed color, indicating that the carpet may contain blood.​

.....Further testimony on the carpet is expected to come next week.

 

[Curious Me]

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - Alaska V Brian Smith Trial
An LE witness - didn't catch his name or title

There's exhibits of four chests found in the office area, and inside are digital devices and memory devices. Found also were Sim and SD cards. He is asked to explain the difference between those cards. Discs also found. What was found on any of these exhibits wasn't revealed with this witness. Court now taking a 15 minute Recess Break.​

 

[Curious Me]

10:32 Alaska Time - Jury back in Courtroom
Witness is DDS Lauren Gagliano (a dental expert).

No lower jaw as you can see. There were missing teeth. They can tell if that happened before or after death.

She identified the skull with upper jaw belonged to Veronica Abouchuk. She is both a dentist and a odonatologist (a specialist in odontology). Sometime in 2019, she was called in from the ME's office to look at a skull with the upper jaw to compare & determine from before (anti mortem) and after (post mortem) dental records to identity of the victim. She explains the type of restorations can help and are unique enough to help identify.
Second part of her testimony had to do with Kathleen Jo Henry's. The Defense crossed.​

Live coverage of the Brian Smith murder trial

The jury trial of Brian Smith, who is accused of murdering and taking videos and photos of the deaths of two Alaska Native women between 2017 and 2019, officially began Feb. 6 in Anchorage court.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

 

[MeadowMuffin]

She said that dental comparisons are unique to each individual. This is because each area of decay is unique, how many surfaces of each tooth is involved, as well as the subsequent restoration used, whether amalgam, composite or crown.It sounded to me as if even identification can be made by one tooth alone. And as you wrote, they can tell by the amount of healing in the bone, if a tooth is lost before or after death. Amazing info I never knew.

 

[Curious Me]

Dr. Thompson an Expert in Forensic Pathology.
He did the initial exam on Kathleen Henry's remains on Oct. 3, 2019.

Describes the condition of receiving the remains of Kathleen Henry. Describes the initial appearance of the body remains such as long, dark hair was evident. Technical testimony continues. He performed an autopsy. No evidence of bullet fragments on the x-ray. The post mortem exam, though it showed the bruises and wounds; however, it did not show the cause or conclusion of the COD. The COD was determined to be asphyxiation by homicide. Strangulation is likely.

"Asphyxia refers to the condition of oxygen deprivation, while asphyxiated means a person has died due to oxygen deprivation. Airway obstruction, the constriction or obstruction of airways, such as from asthma, laryngospasm, or simple blockage from the presence of foreign materials; from being in environments where oxygen is not readily accessible."

There was a lot of decomposition for only a month, but Dr. thinks that's possible & normal being outside in Alaska elements. Fingers were missing meaning animal predation most likely the cause there. Description of decomp ensues. (The hair measured about 26", and was basically straight and black hair, a little wavy.)

FACT-- "The hyoid is the U-shaped bone of the neck that is fractured in one-third of all homicides by strangulation."

However, even though the hyoid bone of the neck is not broken, it can still be a strangulation death. Defense tries to cross that the death could've been an Overdose, but the Dr. says there's no evidence of that. Defense questions what type of force was used to strangle and not break the hyoid bone. Prosecution is back to further question that the hyoid can be somewhat protected from breaking, even thought the death is from strangulation. The dr. was very thorough to insure his determination of COD could be documented. ​

 

[Curious Me]

Witness Cara Gregor

Forensic Examiner from FBI Lab at Quantico in Virginia. She manages cases for which tests need to be done, she directs the which biologists should do which lab tests. She's degreed and considered an expert in a couple of fields. Technical descriptions of the tests are discussed.​

• There was a bone sample from Kathleen Henry.​
• Buccal samples were from Brian Smith & wife.​
• There were three carpet samples. ​
• There were swabs from the truck in various places on the truck. ​
• There was a blanket, item #5, with stains on it. Two of more people were contributors to contact with the blanket. Henry was excluded on the results from the blanket. Miss Abouchuk was excluded from the stains as well. ​

(MOO here-- It's still hard for me to imagine that BS shot and killed a person laying on the couch in his basement. He must've had a lot of blood to clean up. You can try to clean up, but so often the carpet underside has blood evidence still found, and in this case LE did find some blood stains.)

Discussion continues on the underside of the carpet stains. This is the carpet with stains found under the red couch in the basement of the BS residence. The carpet stains Item #6 Stain #1-- there's a high probability the stains in the carpet cuttings are from Veronica Abouchuk. Item #7 no conclusions were made on the testing. Item #8 Stain #1 blood was also indicated, but not confirmed, but DNA was done and two contributors were most likely, most probably BS but not VA's DNA. Tail gate swabs and truck swabs didn't identify. The truck bed (probably cleaned his truck bed though) Item #11 didn't detect blood so no DNA testing was done.

(Exhibit #260, 261, & 262 are carpet cuttings being discussed.) VA's blood was concluded to be found on Item #6 Stain #1. The Prosecution and Witness stood to point out that stain to the Jurors.

A 15 minute Recess Break now. The Prosecution wants to let Judge know they need to talk about a certain witness before they get on the stand later today. Judge says let's take a break now.​

 

[Curious Me]

1:02 p.m. Alaska Time
Defense crosses exams the
witness Cara Gregor Forensic Examiner

She did not exam a gun or a gun silencer, nor gloves, or swabs from truck interior. Investigators didn't send those items for testing, although they could've, yet didn't. It goes on, then back to Prosecution, then back to Defense. Judge wants to limit it now. ​

I'm taking a Lunch Break now.

 

[Curious Me]

Mark Huelskoetter
Investigations Specialist at Federal Aviation Administration Anchorage, Alaska, USA
He brought in drone technology to the APD years ago. He's basically a Drone Expert.

This is Drone Footage the courtroom is watching as the witness testifies. On Oct. 2, 2019 he was called to a location to investigate. This was on Stewart Hwy. where the train tracks are located. He took drone footage of the scene using the technology he brought to APD. What the actual footage revealed wasn't discussed, but I believe this was when Kathleen Henry's remains were found. That is the end of his testimony.

Court is Recessed for the day. A sidebar hearing without the jury present is to discuss an upcoming witness. This is a confidential hearing between the Judge and counsel on both sides, and it's not to be recorded or included on the record. They're clearing the courtroom and shutting down the mics. We aren't allowed to hear it either. Recess for us until tomorrow morning. ​

 

[Curious Me]

Lead Detective Brendan Lee has been called up to the stand. He was on the Homicide Unit since June 2019. Detective Lee was the main investigator in case and interrogated BS. He testified before and is now back on stand)​

(Note-- I slept late and missed the beginning of this testimony. I'm not able to take notes on this testimony right now. Hope someone else can fill us in if anything important is revealed.)

Dr. Lee was able to identify Kathleen Jo Henry in the video when BS pulls her eye open to see if she was alive. Dr. Lee looked for a picture of her alive and saw a mole on her eye lid that was the same as in the video. He reviewed all the police reports and looked into Mr. Smith's social media, etc., before he interviewed Mr. Smith. We will be hearing about his interview with the defendant. At the end of the interview Mr. Smith will agree to take the investigators out to where the remains were found.

Live coverage of the Brian Smith murder trial

The jury trial of Brian Smith, who is accused of murdering and taking videos and photos of the deaths of two Alaska Native women between 2017 and 2019, officially began Feb. 6 in Anchorage court.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

​

 

[Curious Me]

AFAIK, this shows BS in his truck at McDonald's.

This is the white blanket and a blue tarp seen in the back of truck at McD's that looks like the same as they had seen in BS's video with the body in the truck.​

Security camera footage taken inside a liquor store BS went into on the 3rd.

Judge says 15 minute Recess Break now.

 

[MeadowMuffin]

Trying to listen to this trial, and watch Chad Doerman trial, and waiting verdict in Harmony Montgomery trial. Housework has to wait for commercials!

 

[Curious Me]

Live coverage of the Brian Smith murder trial

The jury trial of Brian Smith, who is accused of murdering and taking videos and photos of the deaths of two Alaska Native women between 2017 and 2019, officially began Feb. 6 in Anchorage court.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 10:45 Alaska time- Break is over, and Jurors are coming back into the courtroom. Lead Detective Lee continues his testimony. ​

Waiting while a matter is brought up to the Judge.

Liquor store camera with Mr. Smith holding a cell phone. Receipts were found in BS's truck dated September 5, 2019 11:04. BS pulls up to get gas, then goes into the store.

(Next part of testimony Judge says is admissible only to explain why Det. Lee did what he did next, not for other purposes. Investigators eventually show Det. Lee videos found at BS's residence. A video of BS with a female, later believed to be Veronica Abouchuk, and a red couch are shown to Det. Lee. )​

 

[Curious Me]

State's Exhibit #326 has four frames and in one you can see Veronica on the red couch.
Exhibit shows Veronica with a towel over her head and blood is seen. (I think this was after BS shot her... he took pic or video! How did he clean that red couch because it was still there a couple years later? )

After BS's arrest and the search of the residence, they were able to take carpet cuttings as seen rolled up in the pic.​

 

[Curious Me]

Text messages on the phone revealed texts between Mr. Smith and a Mr. Ian Calhoun.

Didn't catch all the dates, but... The text messages are from the same time that the videos in the hotel were taken.

BS texts him "Are you up? I'm having fun."

Calhoun doesn't reply right away. Then BS says, "I did have fun, wanted to share."

BS texts him, "We need to meet soon. I want to show you something, but I can't keep it long."

Texts go back and forth about getting together soon. BS sends IEH a map location to a park.

Exhibits #312 to 316 are Facebook messages between Brian Smith's FB and Ian Calhoun's FB. Images from newspaper articles about remains being found on hwy.

Detective Lee does question Mr. Calhoun.
_____________________________________

When BS is in the jail, they did listen to the phone visits between BS and his wife. Nov. 30, 2019 listened to convo.

Wife says, "So you did not sleep with the women you killed?"

BS says, "Not those two.

She says, "But you did sleep with some other women?"

Stopped! Jury is asked by Judge to disregard last two questions.​

 

[Curious Me]

The prosecutors also revealed the name of a new person in this case, Ian Calhoun. An FBI agent testified Thursday about cell phone tower locations associated …

Jury shown pictures of small skeleton, curled into the fetal position in the Brian Smith murder trial

Thursday's testimony in the Brian Smith murder trial was less intense and graphic than what the jury had come to expect after previously watching and listening to video showing the last 36 minutes of Henry's life.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

​

 

[Curious Me]

Please don't disregard the ^^^ above posts about Brian Smith texting his buddy Ian Calhoun about the fun he had, most likely meaning killing Kathleen Jo Henry. These texts timing were around the time it was happening and after. MOO, I'm assuming these two men shared snuff videos and pics. This is something we suspected to be a possibility all along. BS took videos to possibly share. ​

Kathleen Jo Henry . . . . . . Veronica Abouchuk

Trial of Brian Smith, accused of murdering two Alaska Native women, enters third week

Both women are from Southwest Alaska and each battled homelessness and addiction in Anchorage.

alaskapublic.org

 

[MeadowMuffin]

The prosecutors also revealed the name of a new person in this case, Ian Calhoun. An FBI agent testified Thursday about cell phone tower locations associated …

Jury shown pictures of small skeleton, curled into the fetal position in the Brian Smith murder trial

Thursday's testimony in the Brian Smith murder trial was less intense and graphic than what the jury had come to expect after previously watching and listening to video showing the last 36 minutes of Henry's life.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

​

Curious Me, you're doing an awesome job at reporting this.
I wonder if Ian Calhoun will be called to testify? Could he be an accessory after the fact, or just know of BS's activities?
And was BS's wife truly that clueless to believe him when he said he didn't sleep with "those two?" Video says otherwise regarding Ms Henry.