- South African native Brian Steven Smith was sentenced to 229 years in prison for the murders of two women in Alaska.
- Smith was convicted of killing 52-year-old Veronica Abouchuk and 30-year-old Kathleen Jo Henry.
- The investigation began when a woman found an SD card containing videos of the murders.
- Smith confessed to both murders and provided details to the authorities.
Brian Steven Smith, a South African-born man, was sentenced to 229 years in prison for the brutal murders of two women in Alaska.
SA-born serial killer sentenced for Alaska double murder
Both women, 52-year-old Veronica Abouchuk and 30-year-old Kathleen Jo Henry, who were from small villages in western Alaska and had experienced homelessness, were brutally killed by Smith.
According to reports, the investigation into Smith began in September 2019 when Valerie Casler turned in an SD card to the police.
Casler initially claimed to have found the card on the street but later admitted she had stolen it from a man’s truck.
The card contained gruesome photos and videos of the murders, including the brutal beating and strangulation of Henry.
The attacker, who spoke with a thick accent, could be heard in the video making chilling remarks about his actions.
Smith was arrested on 8 October 2019, at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport upon his return from a trip.
Police discovered 39 photos and 12 videos related to Henry’s assault and murder on the SD card.
Smith was later charged with Abouchuk’s murder after confessing to the crime and revealing the location of her body to the authorities.
Who is Brian Steven Smith?
Brian Steven Smith was born on 23 March 1971, in the Queenstown area of South Africa.
He later immigrated to the United States, becoming a US citizen in September 2019. Smith’s criminal activities came to light in Alaska, where he worked at a Marriott International affiliate.
He had rented a discounted room from 2-4 September 2019, during which time he committed the murder of Kathleen Jo Henry.
The SD card found by Valerie Casler contained damning evidence that led to Smith’s arrest and conviction.
The card held videos and photos documenting the horrific details of Henry’s murder, including Smith’s statements about his actions.
Detectives with the Anchorage Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continued to investigate Smith’s past, uncovering a pattern of violent behaviour.