Kermit Smith Jr.

Kermit Smith Jr. (June 7, 1957 – January 24, 1995) was an American convicted murderer who was executed by the state of North Carolina for the kidnap, rape, and murder of a 20-year-old college cheerleader. At the time of his execution, The New York Times and Associated Press noted that Smith was just the second white person to be executed for the murder of a black victim since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.[2][3]

For the unrelated American college baseball coach, see Kermit Smith.
Kermit Smith Jr.
Born(1957-06-07)June 7, 1957[1]
Halifax County, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedJanuary 24, 1995(1995-01-24) (aged 37)
Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
MotiveMisogyny
Conviction(s)First degree murder
First degree kidnapping
Second degree rape
Robbery
Breaking and entering
Assault of a police officer
Simple assault
Criminal penaltyDeath

Crime

On December 4, 1980, 23-year-old Kermit Smith Jr. of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina was taken into custody for the murder of 20-year-old Whelette Collins and the abduction of two other women after a basketball game the previous night at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.[4]

The two surviving abductees, both age 19, told officers they were forced at gunpoint into the trunk of the car near Wesleyan's gymnasium, while Collins was forced to ride in the passenger seat from Rocky Mount to Weldon, North Carolina.[5] Smith took the women to a wooded area where he raped and bludgeoned Collins to death.[4][6]

The two surviving abductees escaped Smith after attacking him with a lug wrench and a straightened-out safety pin. The women hid in the woods until morning when they were picked up on Interstate 95 by a passing motorist who stopped a North Carolina State Highway Patrol officer, who notified local authorities.[7]

When police arrived with the women at the scene hours later, they found Smith still there in bloody clothing. The women identified him and he was arrested on the spot. Collins's body was found nearby.[8]

Trial

On April 29, 1981, Smith was sentenced to death in Halifax County, North Carolina. In addition to death, he was sentenced to 40 years for rape and 10 years for robbery. Smith told reporters that he regretted his actions, but claimed he did not understand the significance of them due to stress. He further stated he was not particularly ready to die, but faced with spending the rest of his life in prison, he preferred the alternative.[9]

A diary Smith kept that was later recovered showed that he had long planned the crime, motivated by misogyny and hatred of women. He had previously served time for a violent attack on a couple, noting in his diary that he had intended on kidnapping the woman and taking her into the woods. In that case, Smith got an 18-month suspended sentence and three years probation for assault.[10]

In 1982, Kermit Smith was additionally sentenced to 25 years in prison for the kidnappings as part of a plea bargain.[11]

Execution

On January 24, 1995, Smith was executed by lethal injection for the murder of Whelette Collins.[12] He was pronounced dead at 2:12 a.m. His last meal consisted of four pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken, a Mountain Dew, and a Pepsi.[13] Smith requested that Collins's mother personally execute him, by operating the machine that would administer the lethal injection. He supposedly requested this as a way of atoning for his crime, however, the request was denied.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Offender Information Kermit Smith". North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  2. Waggoner, Martha (January 25, 1995). "Smith's Execution Only Second Time White Man Executed For Murdering Black Man". Associated Press. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  3. "Virginia and North Carolina Put Killers to Death". The New York Times. January 25, 1995. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  4. "Cheerleader Murdered, N.J. Classmate Escapes". The Daily Journal. December 5, 1980. p. 5. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Authorities Are Pushing Probe In Student Death". Rocky Mount Telegram. Weldon. December 5, 1980. p. 1. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Neff, Joseph; Krueger, Bill (January 24, 1995). "Kermit Smith executed". The News & Observer. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved January 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Waggoner, Martha (September 3, 1994). "Night of Terror Haunts Victims - Killer on Death Row". News & Record. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  8. State of North Carolina v. Kermit Smith, Jr. (Supreme Court of North Carolina June 2, 1982).
  9. Bass, Mary Tom (May 1, 1981). "Smith Given Death Penalty". Rocky Mount Telegram. Halifax. p. 1. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Waggoner, Martha (September 3, 1994). "Killer's Diary Spelled Out Plans for Attack". News & Record. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  11. "Smith: 25 Years on Kidnapping". Rocky Mount Telegram. Nashville. June 22, 1982. p. 11. Retrieved March 31, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "2 Inmates Executed in a Day". The New York Times. January 26, 1995. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  13. "State executes cheerleader killer". The Daily News Journal. January 24, 1995. p. 3. Retrieved January 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Killer wants victim's mom to execute him". The Orlando Sentinel. January 22, 1995. p. 14. Retrieved January 14, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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