After Jonathan Aaron Smith was killed just steps away from his own door, the police initially hypothesized that this was the result of an attempted robbery gone wrong. However, as they delved deeper into the investigation, they uncovered darker secrets.
Marital Strain
Jonathan Aaron Smith lived with his parents and older brother in their happy home in the city of Cleveland, Tennessee, USA. Described as cheerful, lovable, and adventurous, Jonathan worked at the Blockbuster video store in 1981, where he struck up a conversation with a beautiful sales clerk named Denice Graham, who was a year younger than him. Denice had a twin sister named Debi. Jonathan and Denice dated for about a year before getting married. They had two children together.
In 1991, Jonathan’s parents bought a campground property in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, as part of their retirement plans. Jonathan and Denice moved onto the land to help them build another log cabin. Denice found work as a dental assistant.
By 1995, cracks started to appear in Jonathan and Denice’s marriage. Denice had an affair, which Jonathan discovered. Realizing their marriage was over, he filed for divorce and moved back in with his parents.
On July 23, 1997, the police received a call around 6:05 p.m. reporting a body at the campground. The caller was Harry Smith, Jonathan’s father. He sounded distraught, saying he had just found his son shot dead.
The House Ransacked
Police immediately rushed to the log cabin. Jonathan’s body lay just a few meters from the door, face down in a pool of blood, on the pathway leading into the house.
The victim had been shot in the ear, and back, and with a fatal shot to the back of the head. Police believed Jonathan was killed between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and there had been a confrontation inside the house based on the position of his body. It appeared that he had tried to flee and was shot in the back.
Inside the cabin, signs of a ransack were evident. The drawers were empty, and everything was in disarray. The initial hypothesis of the police was that Jonathan had stumbled upon a burglary.
Police asked Harry to check inside the house for any missing valuables. The father confirmed a missing handgun, a gold watch, and some jewelry. A silver bracelet was found on a chair. Harry said it didn’t belong to anyone in his household.
The campground was busy with summer visitors. Some witnesses reported seeing a white sedan driving around the campground around 5 p.m.
Police sat down with Jonathan’s parents, who were clearly in distress. They mentioned that the campground had only one entrance and exit. The log cabin had a gate, and only those who knew the password could enter.
The Divorce Battle
From this information, investigators suspected that Jonathan might have been acquainted with his killer. They asked the victim’s parents to provide any information about Jonathan’s life. They learned that he and his wife, Denice Graham, had gone through a bitter divorce and custody battle. Their issues began when Denice disliked living at her in-laws’ campground. Colleagues at the dental office where Denice worked confirmed her infidelity.
One day, Denice had a car accident while on her way to meet her lover. Jonathan had to pick her up, leading to the discovery of her infidelity.
Jonathan filed for divorce, and Denice retaliated by accusing him of abusing her and the children. They continued living together under one roof, but Denice later called the police to have Jonathan arrested. He then moved back into his parents’ house.
According to the arrangement, Jonathan was supposed to visit and pick up the children every weekend. However, Denice adamantly refused to hand the children over to her ex-husband. She even presented what she claimed to be evidence of Jonathan mistreating the children.
It was some drawings Denice said their daughter had made. However, they seemed too elaborate for a 10-year-old. A judge later determined that Denice had staged this.
The Mysterious Envelope
Jonathan’s parents revealed that he had been awarded full custody of the children a week before the murder. When Jonathan arrived to pick up the kids, he found them leaving in a car with Denice.
A few days later, with no word from his ex-wife, Jonathan reported a kidnapping. A warrant was issued for Denice’s arrest.
Denice returned to Tennessee 10 days after fleeing with the children. However, she returned alone. A ransom note was later issued, demanding the children be safely returned. It turned out they were at Denice’s sister’s house and were brought back to live with their grandparents. Meanwhile, Denice was also released after posting bail.
On July 15, 1997, the Gatlinburg post office contacted the police, saying they received an envelope addressed to Jonathan. After the package was delivered, a phone call immediately reported drugs inside. The return address was fake but sent from Miami.
The police then posed as the delivery person. Based on the envelope’s size and weight, they determined very few items were inside.
Jonathan then signed for the package. Inside, there was a small amount of cocaine and a note saying: “Sent to Jonathan Aaron Smith, next time the price will increase.” Jonathan realized he had been set up.
The Meeting at the Motel
On July 15, 1997, 8 days before his murder, Jonathan Aaron Smith received an envelope containing a small amount of cocaine. Additionally, there was a note saying: “Sent to Jonathan Aaron Smith, next time the price will increase.” Jonathan knew he had been set up. This envelope was later taken for fingerprint analysis.
Speaking with Brittany – Jonathan’s daughter, the police learned that two days after Jonathan was awarded custody of the children, his ex-wife Denice Graham and her father, Don, took the children to Miami. Brittany thought it was a vacation.
Brittany recalled that at a motel there, they encountered Debi Graham, Denice’s twin sister. Debi’s boyfriend, Alex Rivera, was also present.
Brittany remembered pretending to be asleep in the motel when Alex accidentally stepped on her. She continued pretending. Alex looked as though he had just been in a fight. Debi told her father and sister that “it’s done.” Alex then admitted to killing someone. When Denice asked if it was easy, Alex just laughed.
When asked if she remembered any other details, Brittany said she saw something in Alex’s bag. It was a pair of handcuffs. Additionally, Alex returned to the motel with a watch Brittany recognized as her grandfather’s. They also stole a ring belonging to her grandmother.
The Sisters’ Scheme
The police checked Denice’s bank records. On July 21, just 2 days before the murder, Denice rented a white Buick in Miami. It matched the type of car witnesses saw entering the campground.
Police checked the license plate of that car. On the day of the murder, it was pulled over and ticketed for speeding. The driver was Alejandro Rivera, also known as Alex. He lived in Miami, close to where the envelope containing cocaine that Jonathan received was sent from.
At this point, investigators knew Denice was involved in the murder, but they needed more evidence.
They spoke with Denice’s coworkers. She made no secret of her lack of respect for her ex-husband. She even asked many people if they knew who could have killed him.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service contacted the police about the envelope sent. They found 5 fingerprints on the outside. The prints matched Debi Graham’s.
This envelope was delivered on July 15, while the custody hearing was scheduled for July 17. On July 18, Jonathan was awarded custody and was killed on July 23.
In August 1997, the police had enough evidence to arrest Denice, Debi, and Alex.
Stolen Items
The clues gathered by the investigative agency all pointed directly to Denice Graham – the ex-wife of the victim, Jonathan Aaron Smith, and Debi Graham – Denice’s twin sister.
In August 1997, the police had enough evidence to arrest Denice, Debi, and Alex Rivera – Debi’s boyfriend.
Denice denied any involvement and claimed she was in Florida with the children when the incident occurred. Denice immediately hired a lawyer for herself. Meanwhile, Debi was found living with her new boyfriend in New York.
On August 22, the police went to Debi’s boyfriend’s apartment and arrested her. Upon searching Debi’s belongings, the police recovered stolen jewelry from the murder scene. Debi’s new boyfriend stated that she had mentioned a theft resulting in someone’s death. She even showed him some of the stolen jewelry.
Confronted by the police, Debi initially said they should be looking for her twin sister instead. But eventually, Debi admitted to taking a trip to Tennessee with Alex.
Alex was arrested about a year later in New York. He didn’t admit anything until he was confronted about being the one who drove the white rental car seen at the crime scene and ticketed for speeding in Tennessee during the time of the murder.
Alex confessed that he and Debi confronted Jonathan. The victim was handcuffed but managed to escape and tried to flee. That’s when Alex accidentally shot and killed him.
The Sinister Plot
Brittany was the key witness and had to face her mother in court. Denice and Debi were both tried in June 1999.
According to the charges, Jonathan had won custody of the two children, but before he could do so, Denice had taken the children to Florida. From a motel, Denice contacted her sister, and they conspired together.
While Denice stayed at the motel with the two children, Debi and Alex drove to Jonathan’s house. Both broke in, searched, and stole at least 11 pieces of jewelry. Alex admitted his intention was to intimidate Jonathan but ended up unintentionally killing him when he unexpectedly returned home.
The prosecution argued that Denice was driven by anger. She wanted control and to make all the decisions. Meanwhile, Debi’s motive was to gain her sister’s love.
Both Debi and Denice claimed innocence. However, both were convicted of first-degree murder, receiving life sentences with the possibility of parole after 51 years.
In 2001, Alex went to trial. Brittany once again became a witness. Alex was also convicted and received a life sentence.
Don – Denice’s father, was concluded to have no involvement in the murder. He was only charged with aiding and abetting in the interference with custody. Meanwhile, the victim’s parents were granted full custody of the two grandchildren.
