Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Cromwell man who in August pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter for killing his mother in February was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday afternoon.
Tyler Samonte Smith, 20, of 11304 N. Enchanted Forest Lane, Cromwell, admitted to killing his mother by stabbing her multiple times as she sat in a recliner in their home Feb. 23.
Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed sentenced Smith to 30 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, a Class A felony. He ordered Smith to pay a $1 fine and court costs.
Thirty years is the presumptive sentence for a Class A felony. Twenty years could have been added to that for aggravating circumstances, and 10 years could have been subtracted for mitigating circumstances.
In Kosciusko Circuit Court Tuesday, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Detective Todd Sautter testified that Rene Smith, 53, was stabbed 11 times in the torso, abdomen and arm with a 24-inch long sword.
Sautter also testified that blood tests performed shortly after the crime showed Tyler Smith had THC (marijuana) in his system at the time of the crime.
Two members of the Smith family spoke on Tyler's behalf Tuesday afternoon.
Tyler Smith's father Ronald Smith told the court, "Six to eight months before the incident, Rene was completely not Rene. She was extremely depressed, in extreme pain, extremely angry ... and just a shell of a person."
Ronald Smith said his wife had severe diabetes and was nearly blind when he asked Tyler to help take care of her instead of working outside the home.
"With Tyler it was 24-7, there was no escape," Ronald Smith said. "I'm proud of Tyler, he did a good job of taking care of her. I don't know if I could have done as well."
Ronald Smith told the court he had to work to keep insurance coverage and Tyler took care of Rene to help keep her out of a nursing home. While Tyler took care of his mother, Ronald said she was mentally abusive to the boy and she bit, scratched and struck out at Tyler while she was in his care.
"We all loved Rene. ... I hate to say bad things about her, but this was not Rene," Ronald Smith said. "I feel bad because I put Tyler in this situation."
Rene Smith's second cousin Debra Satterfield of Fishers testified that Rene "created unstable situation with men ... even those she loved the most."
Satterfield continued, "Tyler is my cousin and I love him very much. ... He would be welcome to come home with me today. ... Tyler is worth the second chance that your decision can give him."
In his closing argument, Tyler Smith's attorney, David C. Kolbe, described Tyler as a "19-year-old boy who found himself in a hopeless situation" and described Rene Smith as a woman whose illness and pain drove her mad.
Kolbe said to Judge Reed, "You speak for the victim. ... Speak for her today. (If she were here she would say), 'Show mercy to my son. Show mercy.'"
After Judge Reed handed down the sentence, Tyler Smith was remanded to the custody of the Kosciusko County Sheriff until he is transported to an Indiana Department of Corrections facility.
Before he was removed from the courtroom, Tyler Smith hugged his family members and whispered, "I'll be alright."
