Gail Smith Murder Case: Where are Tim & Deborah Smith, and Tony Sharpe?

Gail Smith Murder

Gail Smith Murder – Authorities in Berryville, Virginia, hurried to locate leads when Gail Smith, a valued member of the community, was slain. However, the investigation dragged on for years until witness statements led to the identification of the perpetrators. ‘Murder Comes to Town: Roses Are Red, Murder Is Too,’ on Investigation Discovery, focuses on the diabolical scheme behind Gail’s death, which was carried out by her own family. So, shall we investigate on Gail Smith murder case what transpired?

Who Was Gail Smith?

Gail Smith was born and raised in New York City. She worked as a flight attendant for many years before retiring in 1993. She retired and relocated to Berryville, Virginia, a small town. Gail volunteered extensively in the community, particularly in churches and with Alzheimer’s sufferers.

Gail ran for and won a seat on the city council in 2008. She was described as lively, entertaining, and gregarious.

Greg Frenzel of the Berryville Police Department came at Gail’s residence around 10 a.m. on July 30, 2009. He was sent to conduct a welfare check.

When Greg knocked on the door, no one answered. He could see her laying in the hallway when he glanced in from the outside. He said she appeared bloated and requested assistance. Gail’s house had turned into a crime scene in a matter of minutes.

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Gail Smith Murder

What Caused Gail Smith’s Death?

Gail Smith Murder was big news for locals because Gail Smith was a well-known figure in Berryville. The New York native had a lengthy and successful career as a flight attendant before that. She relocated to Berryville after retiring in 1993 and quickly became a presence in the town. Gail dealt with Alzheimer’s patients, which was something her father was battling with as well.

In 2008, the 59-year-old ran for and won a seat on the town council. Gail’s aunt was concerned when she didn’t hear from her for a few days. So, on July 30, 2009, she went to Gail’s house and requested a welfare check.

Gail was found laying on her back at the entryway, with evidence of decomposition, by the police from the outside. Gail had been shot in the head with a.22-caliber handgun, and the wound was a contact wound. However, no shell casings or murder weapon were discovered at the scene.

They only discovered a bouquet of fake flowers, which they thought was strange given Gail’s vast garden. Furthermore, it didn’t appear to be a burglary, raising the idea that it was a personal matter.

Gail Smith Murder: Who Killed Gail Smith and Why?

When the cops spoke with Gail’s friends and neighbours, they discovered something troubling. However, the detectives were perplexed by a few minor points. A plastic bouquet of flowers was found near Gail’s body. Gail was well-known to the cops, and they knew she enjoyed plants and other living things.

It seemed strange that she had a cheap, fake plant in her house. Despite the fact that it was the midst of summer in Virginia, Gail’s air conditioning had not been switched on.

Gail Smith Murder First Theory, Is It Politically Motivated?

Gail’s autopsy revealed that she died from a single gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiner. A.22 calibre bullet had struck Gail in the temple. Her skull was broken after the bullet passed through it. Gail was likewise suspected to have been murdered on July 26, four days before she was discovered, according to the medical examiner.

Her family had to be notified by the police. They inquired of her brother, Tim Smith, as to who might wish to harm Gail. Tim admitted that they had always been close, but she had the potential to ruffle some feathers.

Tim Smith
Tim Smith

Gail died on the first anniversary of her election to the municipal council. The police learned that some residents were unhappy with Gail’s presence on the council, owing to her lack of knowledge of the city’s history. Gail’s buddy stated she handled the situation gracefully and didn’t seem disturbed.

Gail was well-liked and respected by all members of the city council, according to the officers who met with them. This hypothesis was quickly disproved.

Second Theory: Gail Smith Murder was a Random Kill?

After speaking with one of Gail’s neighbours, the police came up with the second possibility. He claimed to have seen a white pickup truck in Gail’s driveway several times before her death.

The next-door neighbour claimed that he, too, had been visited by this man. He had declined the man’s request to power wash his home. He claimed the man worked for a nearby construction company and was looking for a way to supplement his income.

The cops stopped by the construction company and spoke with the contractor. He claimed they were looking for a man named Randall (not sure whether this is his actual name; according to the programme, some names may have been changed). Randall, who was in his forties, even borrowed the company’s power washer to supplement his income.

Randall lived in Charleston, West Virginia, about 20 miles from Berryville, according to the builder. The cops were able to track down Randall and eliminate him as a suspect for Gail Smith murder case. He was only looking for a way to supplement his income.

The 3rd theory was Gail Knew Her Killer

Gail’s past was investigated further by the police. Gail’s attorney also contacted them, stating that Gail had an ongoing case over her father’s guardianship. Gail desired to take on the role of a legal guardian for her father. Gail paid him numerous visits because he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It didn’t seem to go over well with her siblings, Tim and Deborah.

Deborah Smith
Deborah Smith

Deborah was questioned by the police, and she stated that there were no problems. She and Gail adored each other, and she and Tim got along swimmingly.

Gail had previously been married, and her ex-husband possessed a white pickup truck, investigators learned on August 8. The officers travel to Farmville, Virginia, where he resides. He said that he and Gail were acquaintances. He also had a plausible explanation for Gail’s death.

The police ran out of leads and suspects, and the case remained unsolved for nearly four months.

Finally Got an Clue on Gail Smith Murder Case

Tricia Putnam received a call from Farmville police on November 29, 2009. They claimed to have a man in custody who knew something about Gail’s murder.

In exchange for a lesser sentence on his existing charges, the individual agreed to speak. Tim Smith, Gail’s brother, had asked him if he would assist him to kill Gail in exchange for $2,000, according to the man. Tim planned to employ a dangerous snake, and the venom would create heart attack-like symptoms, according to the man. The man claimed that he told Tim that he didn’t want to be involved, and the cops felt he was telling the truth.

Tim Smith has been charged with soliciting murder and conspiring to commit murder. He pleaded no contest and received a two-year sentence. Tim had been imprisoned for the time being, but the matter was far from ended.

Tracking down the Triggerman in Gail Smith Murder Case

Tim was involved, but he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, according to the cops. They concentrated their inquiry on Tim’s friends. Tim had bought the killer a prepaid phone. The day before Gail was killed, the authorities were able to locate the phone in Berryville. The phone was only used once more after the murder to order a pizza.

The address where the pizza was delivered was obtained by the police. It brought them to Gladys, a woman (again, not sure if this is her real name). Gladys explained that her granddaughter used to live there, but that she now resides with her lover Tony Sharpe.

Tony and his girlfriend were apprehended by the cops. They knew Tim since Tony did odd things for him, and they used to live next door to each other. Tony said he had nothing to do with the murder. They also had no proof that Tony was the murderer.

Tim Smith was freed from prison in August of 2012, when the case fell cold once more.

Three and a half years after Gail Smith Murder, the authorities finally heard from another friend of Tim’s that he was afraid of being caught. Deborah, according to the buddy, was also participating. Deborah had given the triggerman the money to purchase the plastic flowers that were in Gail’s home, according to the man. The details of the flowers were never revealed to the general audience.

Tony Sharpe’s girlfriend came out on March 21, 2013, and claimed that Tony was involved. Tim had given him $2,000, and she saw him with it a week after Gail Smith Murder.

Tony Sharpe
Tony Sharpe

What Has Happened to Tim Smith, Deborah Smith, and Tony Sharpe?

Deborah was suspected of being the mastermind for Gail Smith murder, and the investigators had persuaded Tim that Gail had to die. Tim, in turn, persuaded Tony to murder Gail Smith. Tim later pled guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree murder conspiracy, and first-degree murder with a firearm.

He was sentenced to 23 years in total in March 2015, when he was 55 years old. Tim is still detained at the Deerfield Correctional Center in Capron, Virginia, according to prison records. In April 2033, he will be eligible for release.

Deborah, then 62, pled guilty to lying and obstruction of justice without the use of force in April 2014, agreeing to cooperate. She was ultimately sentenced to eight years in prison and, as far as we know, has since been released.

Deborah appears to have kept a low profile since then, with Virginia as her last known whereabouts. Tony eventually confessed and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, murder conspiracy, and shooting in the conduct of a felony.

In April 2015, he was sentenced to a total of 25 years in jail for Gail Smith Murder. Tony is still detained at Sussex I State Prison in Waverly, Virginia, at the age of 35. In September 2036, he will be eligible for release.

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