Serial killer bargains for his life
A man convicted of slaying two coeds in Rowland Heights back in the 1980s bought his way off Death Row by confessing to the killing of a seven-year-old Northern California girl in the early part of that decade.
Wayne Harvey Smith, 61, will spend the rest of his life in prison. Here's a link to Brian Day's story (and the top portion):
ROWLAND HEIGHTS - A serial killer convicted of two Rowland Heights murders in the 1980s avoided the death penalty after he confessed to slaying a seven-year-old Northern California girl, officials and family members said Friday.
In order to avoid execution for the 1983 shooting death of 18-year-old Stacy Belcher of Rowland Heights, Wayne Harvey Smith, 61, cooperated with investigators and admitted to killing a 7-year-old girl in Weaverville in 1980, Trinity County sheriff's Detective Bryan Ward said. He will not be prosecuted in that case.
"I'd rather have seen the death penalty," Stacy Belcher's father, Charles Belcher, said, "but the fact that this other family has closure, that makes it worthwhile."
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CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
Is this all there is to the case? Please elaborate. It is outrageous that this guy confesses to more murber but receives less punishement. And now California tax payers get to house and feed him the rest of his life in prison. This makes no sense.
My name is Donna and I grew up in Hacienda Heights in the same house with Stacy for almost 14 years. I am her step sister. We had a blended family. Stacy and her two brothers came to live with me and my sister and brother. We were so young at the time and there were 6 of us. The word step was never used in our house we were just brothers and sisters. Stacy and I were the same age I was born in Jan. she was born in March so I was the big sister. I took that job seriously. When we went to kindergarten on the first day, we climb the steps of the bus and I announced "this is my new sister".
When Stacy was murdered in 1983 you can't imagine the loss we all felt. We went over 20 years without any e have a name and a face of a killer. This not just about our family. It is closure for the 7 year old girl murdered as well. Now they have answers as well.
My name is Donna and I grew up in Hacienda Heights in the same house with Stacy for almost 14 years. I am her step sister. We had a blended family. Stacy and her two brothers came to live with me and my sister and brother. We were so young at the time and there were 6 of us. The word step was never used in our house we were just brothers and sisters. Stacy and I were the same age I was born in Jan. she was born in March so I was the big sister. I took that job seriously. When we went to kindergarden on the first day, we climb the steps of the bus and I announced "this is my new sister".
When stacy was murdered in 1983 you can't imagine the loss we all felt. We went over 20 years without any e have a name and a face of a killer. This not just about our family. It is closure for the 7 year old girl murdered as well. Now they have answers as well.