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Questions Remain in Killing

Newton Kansan, 30 Jun 2001, Page 1

Investigators know how Michael Smith died. Autopsy reports reveal the 24-year-old Burrton man died of multiple stab wounds. And through interviews, police are pretty sure they know when he died, where he died and who was allegedly involved in his killing. But what has investigators puzzled, Harvey County Attorney Matt Treaster said, is why Michael Smith died. Described as a drifter who often stayed with friends for days at a time before moving on, Smith was killed less than eight hours after he moved in with an acquaintance at a Newton trailer home. Smith was sleeping on the couch, investigators said, when two men entered the trailer at 901 E. 11th Lot 1, had a brief confrontation with him and then allegedly attacked and killed him. Smith's body was found June 18 in a ditch in rural Newton, five days after his car had been discovered abandoned and bloody in a ditch less than a mile away. Investigators are still trying to put together what could have been said or done to spur the killing. Authorities believe the suspects and Smith were strangers at the time of the killing. With Friday's ruling to delay a preliminary hearing in the case until Aug. 24th, investigators now have an additional eight weeks to fit the puzzle pieces together. "We're still investigating a motive," Treaster said. "There is this rumor that this may have been about drugs, but we have no evidence of this as being a drug deal gone bad." Three remain in custody in connection with the killing. Robert Engelhardt, 26, and Brian Smith, 27 -- no relation to the victim -- have been charged with first-degree murder. The murder charge carries a possible prison sentence of 25 years to life. In some instances, such convictions have earned suspects "hard 50" sentences, meaning those convicted must serve 50 years before becoming eligible for parole, Treaster said. He said a conviction in this case would not warrant a death penalty. Newton attorney Don Snapp, appointed to represent Brian Smith, and Wichita attorney Kevin Loeffler, appointed to represent Engelhardt, each declined to comment on the charges against their clients. Engelhardt remains in custody on a $1 million bond. Smith's bond has been set at $500,000. Also remaining in custody on $150,000 bond is Michelle Drake, Engelhardt's girlfriend. She has been charged with aiding a felon. Similar charges against Dorothy Smith, Brian Smith's wife, were dropped shortly after the couple turned themselves in to Newton Police June 22. Engelhardt and Drake were captured two days earlier in Wichita. Though suspects in the killing are in custody, Treaster said work is far from done in the investigation. "The investigation is ongoing with the Newton Police Department, Harvey County Sheriff's office and Kansas Bureau of Investigation. They have worked very hard. I can't stress that enough," Treaster said. "They went many days without sleep."

Owner/SourceHarvey County Genealogical Society
Date30 Jun 2001
Linked toMichael J Smith

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