Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Sept. 18 trial date was set for a Cromwell man accused of murdering his mother in February.
Tyler Samonte Smith, now 20, of 11304 N. Enchanted Forest Lane, Cromwell, allegedly stabbed his mother, Rene Smith, 53, six times with a 24-inch sword as she sat in a recliner in their home. Tyler Smith was 19 at the time of the incident.
Tyler Smith will stand trial in Kosciusko Circuit Court for one count of murder and one count of voluntary manslaughter in the four-day September trial.
In March, Tyler Smith's court-appointed lawyer David C. Kolbe informed the court that Tyler Smith will use insanity as his defense. Tyler Smith then underwent two court-ordered psychological exams in April and May.
Tyler Smith appeared before Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex L. Reed Feb. 24 for an initial hearing and entered a preliminary plea of not guilty to charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter, both Class A felonies. Kolbe was appointed as Tyler Smith's public defender.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in Kosciusko Circuit Court, the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department responded to a call of a possible shooting at 11304 Enchanted Forest Lane, Cromwell. When officers arrived, Ron Smith said his wife was dead inside the home.
Ron Smith told officers when he went to bed, Tyler and Rene Smith had been arguing all evening. Ron Smith woke up, heard his wife and son arguing and walked in the living room to see Tyler Smith standing over Rene with a sword in his hands.
Ron Smith told police he saw Tyler stab Rene twice with the sword.
Tyler Smith reportedly told a KCSD detective he was arguing with his mother, who threatened to call police on him.
Tyler Smith allegedly told police his intent was to stab his mother then make the police shoot him at the scene. However, once police arrived, Tyler Smith surrendered peacefully.
