The Murder of Aaron Smith
For this case, I watched an episode of Snapped. It’s season 32 episode 3.
A small town minister is killed just feet from his front door.
Background
Jonathan Aaron Smith was born in 1960. Aaron’s parents raised him and his brother in Cleveland, Tennessee. Aaron was extremely close to his parents. A priority of theirs was always going to church on Sundays.
Aaron was described as a class clown, loving and adventurous. He was also very bubbly and happy.
In 1981, Aaron was at a Blockbuster, and started talking to the clerk working there. Her name was Denice Graham. Denice was born in 1961, and had a twin sister, Debi. Aaron and Denice dated for about a year, got married, and had two children together.
Debi and Denice
In 1991, Aaron’s parents came across a campground for sale in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They thought it would be a good edition to their retirement, and went on to buy it. Aaron and Denice moved into the caretakers house, and he helped his parents build another cabin for them.
Aaron became an ordained minister, and built a church community on the campground. Denice worked as a dental assistant about 30 minutes away.
In 1995, Aaron and Denice’s marriage started to deteriorate. Denice also had an affair, which Aaron had found out about. He realized the marriage was over, filed for divorce, and went to live with his parents.
Aaron Smith with his daughter, Brittany
The Murder
On July 23, 1997, a 911 call came in around 6:05pm about a body being found at the campground. The caller was Harry Smith, Aaron’s dad. He said he had just found his son and that he had been shot.
The police arrived, and went to a cabin at the back of the property. Aaron’s body was about 13-14 feet from the front door.
Aaron was lying facedown in the walkway of the cabin in a pool of blood. He had been shot in the ear, back, and the fatal shot was to the back of his head. The police arrived just after 6pm. It’s believed that Aaron had been killed sometime between 4-5pm.
It was believed that the confrontation had started inside the house based on where Aaron’s body had ended up. He had been trying to run away and was shot in the back.
The inside of the house appeared to have been ransacked. The drawers were empty and things were in disarray. The police’s first theory was that Aaron had walked into a burglary in process.
The police asked Harry to look inside the house to check if any valuables were missing. He confirmed that there were pistols missing, a gold watch and some other pieces of jewelry. A pair of silver handcuffs had been found left behind on a chair. Harry said they didn’t belong to anyone inside the house.
The Custody Battle
The campground was busy with people visiting for the summer. Several witnesses said they had seen a white Sedan driving around the campground around 5pm.
The police sat down with Aaron’s parents, who were clearly traumatized. They said there was only one entrance and exit to the campground. At the entrance there was a gate and keypad, and only someone who knew the code could’ve entered.
The police believed Aaron may have known his killer. They asked his parents to give them any information about Aaron’s background. Aaron and Denice had been going through a divorce and custody battle. Their issues started because Denice didn’t enjoy living at the campground. Denice’s co-workers at the dental clinic were having affairs with the patients. Denice also had an affair.
One day Denice had gotten into a car accident on the way to meet her boyfriend. Aaron had to pick her up, and found out about the affair. He filed for divorce, so Denice came forward with allegations of abuse towards her and the kids at the hands of Aaron. They had still been living in the house together, but Denice called the police to have Aaron removed. He then went to live with his parents.
Aaron was supposed to get visitation every other weekend with the kids. Denice would make it a point to not hand over the children to him. Denice had presented “proof” that Aaron was abusive. She turned in some drawings that she said their daughter had drawn. It seemed too sophisticated for a 10 year old to have drawn. The judge determined that they were drawn by Denice.
Aaron’s parents said he was awarded full custody a week before the murder. When he went to retrieve the kids, he saw them leaving in a car with Denice. A few days later, after not hearing from her, he reported the kidnapping. An arrest warrant was issued for Denice for custodial interference.
Denice returned to Tennessee 10 days after she fled with the kids, and 4 days after Aaron’s murder. She had returned without the kids, and was told she couldn’t post bond until the kids were safely returned. They had been in Miami at her aunt and uncle’s house, and were brought back to live with Aaron’s parents. Denice was also released on bond.
A Scorned Woman
On July 15, 1997, the Gatlinburg postal service contacted the police. They had received an Express Mail envelope addressed to Aaron. After the package was delivered, a phone call followed. The phone call said that the package had drugs inside. The return address was a fake address, but it had been mailed from Miami.
Based on the size and weight of the envelope, the police determined that there was only a small amount of whatever was in the envelope.
On July 15, an undercover officer had posed as a mail carrier. Aaron had signed for the package. Inside the package, was a very small amount of cocaine. There was also a note that said, “To Aaron Smith, next time the price goes up.” Aaron knew he had been set up.
The envelope was sent to the US Postal Inspection Service in Memphis to see if there were any fingerprints on the envelope.
The police learned that Aaron’s daughter, Brittany had been telling her grandparents things. The police didn’t ask her anything, but were just letting her talk. She said two days after Aaron was awarded custody, her mom, and Denice’s dad, Don took them on a trip. They went to Miami, and Brittany thought it was just a vacation.
Brittany said they met Debi, Denice’s twin sister at a motel. Debi’s boyfriend, Alex Rivera was also there.
Brittany said she remembered going to sleep in the motel, and was stepped on by Alex. She then pretended to be asleep. Alex had looked like he had been in a fight. Debi said the words “it’s done.” Alex then said they killed him. Denice asked if it was easy, and Alex laughed.
Brittany was asked if there were any other details that she could remember. She said she had seen something in Alex’s pocket. It was a pair of handcuffs. Brittany said Alex came back to the motel wearing a watch that she recognized as being her grandpa’s watch. They had also stolen one of her grandma’s rings.
The Murder Plot
The police checked Denice’s bank records. On July 21, only 2 days before the murder, Denice had rented a white Buick in Miami. It was similar to the type of car that the eyewitnesses had seen entering the campground. The police ran the plates from the rental car. On the day of the murder, the car had been pulled over and issued for a speeding ticket. Alejandro Rivera aka Alex, was driving the car. He was living in Miami near the area where the package containing the cocaine had originated from.
The police knew that Denice was involved, but they needed more evidence.
The police spoke with people that worked with Denice. She didn’t hide her distain for Aaron. She had asked many people if they knew of anyone that would kill him.
The US Postal Inspection Service contacted the police about the express mail envelope. They were able to find 5 fingerprints on the outside of the envelope. The prints were a match to Debi Graham. The package was delivered on July 15, and the custody hearing was July 17. On July 18, he was awarded custody, and was killed on July 23.
The Arrests
By August 1997, the police had enough evidence to arrest Denice, Debi and Alex. Dencie was still in Cosby, Tennessee, and was arrested. She denied any involvement, and claimed she was in Florida with the kids when it happened. She then hired a lawyer.
Debi was found living with her new boyfriend in New York. On August 22, 1997, the police went to her boyfriend’s apartment and arrested her.
The police searched her belongings. The new boyfriend told the police that Debi had discussed the burglary that resulted in someone dying. She had also shown him the jewelry.
Debi was confronted. She said that they should be looking for her twin sister, not her. Debi eventually admitted to making the trip to Tennessee with Alex.
Alex was arrested about a year later in New York. He didn’t admit to anything until he was confronted about being the one who had been driving the white rental car and about his speeding ticket in Tennessee.
Alex finally said he and Debi confronted Aaron at his parent’s house. They handcuffed him, but Aaron was able to get out of the handcuffs. Alex said he just started shooting at him.
The Star Witness
Brittany was the star witness, and had to face her mother in court. Denice and Debi were tried together in June 1999.
The prosecution argued that Denice was fueled by anger. She wanted to be in control and make all of the decisions. Debi’s motive was to get the approval of her sister.
They both maintained their innocence. But, they were both found guilty of first degree murder. They were sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 51 years.
In 2001, Alex went on trial. Brittany again testified. He was found guilty and sentenced to life.
Don wasn’t charged in connection with the murder. He was charged and convicted of being an accessory in the custodial interference. He only received probation.
Denice, Alex Rivera and Debi
FINAL THOUGHTS
I truly hope all 3 remain in prison forever. Brittany has already said that she has been threatened by Alex. I believe they are all capable of killing again if they are ever released. Aaron seemed like such a loving father who was trying to keep his children safe. At least his parents were able to get full custody of his kids, and I’m sure raised them to be great people.
Sources
https://www.vizaca.com/aaron-smith-murder/
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCCA/2004/Graham.pdf
