Friday, August 06, 1999
Woman indicted in aged father's death
Charge could bring 15-to-life
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sherri Smith, 53, of Milford, has been indicted by a Clermont County grand jury in the July 23 killing of her 88-year-old father, Orris Smith.
Clermont County Prosecutor Don White said Thursday the charge of murder was “appropriate” in that the more-serious charge of aggravated murder would require proof of prior design and calculation to win a conviction. Ms. Smith is scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.
If convicted, Ms. Smith, who lived with her father on Chateau Place, faces 15 years to life in prison.
The charge was filed after Ms. Smith was released from an area hospital following a psychiatric evaluation and treatment of self-inflicted superficial wounds.
The body of Mr. Smith, who lived with his daughter, was discovered by a relative. When police arrived, Ms. Smith was in the apartment in what officers described as a “shocklike” state. The coroner ruled Mr. Smith died from blood loss after his throat was cut.
Investigators said Ms. Smith was her father's primary caregiver and she did not work outside of the home. Also, police said it appears likely Ms. Smith was her father's only caregiver because other relatives, who previously helped, have been ill.
Mr. Smith left a local assisted-living facility about three years ago and since had been living with his daughter. He had open heart surgery in the mid-1990s, officials said.
Ms. Smith's brother went to the apartment after he had not heard from them. When knocks on the door went unanswered, a building worker opened the apartment door and found the victim and his injured daughter.
Police declined to release the brother's name.
Mr. Smith had been dead at least 10 hours, authorities said.
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