mammastalkin
06-01-2009, 11:00 AM
Freed Death Row Inmate Passes Away At 80
Jay Smith Spent 6 Years On Death Row
POSTED: 3:16 pm EDT May 13, 2009
UPDATED: 4:27 pm EDT May 13, 2009
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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A former high school principal who spent years on death row after being convicted of killing a teacher and her children - and then had the conviction thrown out - is dead at age 80.
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http://www.wgal.com/2008/1121/18029054_240X180.jpg
(http://www.wgal.com/news/19452068/detail.html#)Jay Smith spoke to News 8 in Nov. 2008, soon after he had self-published a book about his experiences.
Jay Smith's wife, Maureen Smith, told News 8's Susan Shapiro that she found her husband dead in his hospital bed at a Wilkes Barre Hospital on Wednesday. She said he was in the hospital to undergo a heart cathertization.
Smith spent six years on death row after a 1986 conviction for conspiring with another teacher, William Bradfield, to kill suburban Philadelphia English teacher Susan Reinert and her two children. Reinert's body was found outside a Harrisburg-area motel, but the children's remains have never surfaced.
In Nov. 2008, Smith spoke to News 8's Susan Shapiro.
Smith was freed after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court determined there had been serious misconduct by prosecutors.
A book about the case by author Joseph Wambaugh was a best-seller. Smith also self-published a book about his experiences.
Smith Said He Was Framed
Smith whose conviction was overturned in 1992 always maintained his innocence.
"I never had anything to do with Susan Reinert outside school. Never had anything to do with William Bradfield outside school -- nothing to do with the murder of Susan Reinert and her children. Nothing whatsoever," he said.
Smith said Bradfield, who was having an affair with Reinert, framed him because Smith was already facing charges for robbery and gun offenses.
While Smith was the subject of Joseph Wambaugh's book, he also wrote his own.
"I wanted to make sure there's documentation of prosecutorial misconduct that occurred," he said.
In overturning his conviction and ordering he never be tried again, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said state police and the prosecutor concealed and manipulated evidence that could have led to Smith's acquittal.
Smith credits Mark Hughes and his attorney Bill Costopoulos for his freedom.
Hughes uncovered crucial evidence in Smith's case. Hughes was cleaning out the attic in the home of state trooper Jack Holtz in Harrisburg and uncovered what turned out to be crucial evidence. Among the items --a 1099 form proving author Joseph Wambaugh paid the state trooper $45,000 for information about the investigation. In a letter to another trooper, Wambaugh wrote: "As soon as you have told me all you know, I would pay you an additional $45,000." Those payments were on top of a $5,000 signing. The book would only be submitted to a publisher once there was a verdict.
"I felt Joseph Wambaugh's celebrity and his money was behind my being tried," said Smith.
Wambaugh's book, Echoes in the Darkness, was a bestseller. It was also made into a popular television mini-series. Wambaugh has been quoted as saying he still believes Smith is guilty and would be a No. 1 draft pick in hell when he dies.
Behind Bars
Smith said his experience in prison changed him forever.
"It's made me a lot more serious than I used to be. I don't smile much when I think about all time spent in prison. Don't smile about that," he said.
http://www.wgal.com/news/19452068/detail.html
Jay Smith Spent 6 Years On Death Row
POSTED: 3:16 pm EDT May 13, 2009
UPDATED: 4:27 pm EDT May 13, 2009
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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A former high school principal who spent years on death row after being convicted of killing a teacher and her children - and then had the conviction thrown out - is dead at age 80.
http://www.wgal.com/images/structures/buttons/button_enlarge.gif
http://www.wgal.com/2008/1121/18029054_240X180.jpg
(http://www.wgal.com/news/19452068/detail.html#)Jay Smith spoke to News 8 in Nov. 2008, soon after he had self-published a book about his experiences.
Jay Smith's wife, Maureen Smith, told News 8's Susan Shapiro that she found her husband dead in his hospital bed at a Wilkes Barre Hospital on Wednesday. She said he was in the hospital to undergo a heart cathertization.
Smith spent six years on death row after a 1986 conviction for conspiring with another teacher, William Bradfield, to kill suburban Philadelphia English teacher Susan Reinert and her two children. Reinert's body was found outside a Harrisburg-area motel, but the children's remains have never surfaced.
In Nov. 2008, Smith spoke to News 8's Susan Shapiro.
Smith was freed after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court determined there had been serious misconduct by prosecutors.
A book about the case by author Joseph Wambaugh was a best-seller. Smith also self-published a book about his experiences.
Smith Said He Was Framed
Smith whose conviction was overturned in 1992 always maintained his innocence.
"I never had anything to do with Susan Reinert outside school. Never had anything to do with William Bradfield outside school -- nothing to do with the murder of Susan Reinert and her children. Nothing whatsoever," he said.
Smith said Bradfield, who was having an affair with Reinert, framed him because Smith was already facing charges for robbery and gun offenses.
While Smith was the subject of Joseph Wambaugh's book, he also wrote his own.
"I wanted to make sure there's documentation of prosecutorial misconduct that occurred," he said.
In overturning his conviction and ordering he never be tried again, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court said state police and the prosecutor concealed and manipulated evidence that could have led to Smith's acquittal.
Smith credits Mark Hughes and his attorney Bill Costopoulos for his freedom.
Hughes uncovered crucial evidence in Smith's case. Hughes was cleaning out the attic in the home of state trooper Jack Holtz in Harrisburg and uncovered what turned out to be crucial evidence. Among the items --a 1099 form proving author Joseph Wambaugh paid the state trooper $45,000 for information about the investigation. In a letter to another trooper, Wambaugh wrote: "As soon as you have told me all you know, I would pay you an additional $45,000." Those payments were on top of a $5,000 signing. The book would only be submitted to a publisher once there was a verdict.
"I felt Joseph Wambaugh's celebrity and his money was behind my being tried," said Smith.
Wambaugh's book, Echoes in the Darkness, was a bestseller. It was also made into a popular television mini-series. Wambaugh has been quoted as saying he still believes Smith is guilty and would be a No. 1 draft pick in hell when he dies.
Behind Bars
Smith said his experience in prison changed him forever.
"It's made me a lot more serious than I used to be. I don't smile much when I think about all time spent in prison. Don't smile about that," he said.
http://www.wgal.com/news/19452068/detail.html