Murder of Carolyn Killaby by Dennis Smith examined on Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is investigating the murder of Carolyn Killaby, who was killed by Dennis Smith, a paroled murderer she met at a bar in Orchards, a suburb of Vancouver, Washington.

Killaby’s murder became particularly controversial because Smith had been released from prison on parole for murdering his sister. He was supposed to be under supervision, but Killaby’s death revealed lax practices in Washington’s parole system, which allowed Smith to engage in illegal activity without any consequences.

On November 11, 1995, 34-year-old Killaby was dancing and drinking alone at the bar in Omar’s Restaurant and Steak House. She became highly intoxicated and was struggling to walk.

Smith, a regular at Omar’s, had been watching Killaby all night and had made comments about her to the bouncer and other regulars.

At one point, Smith approached the now very drunk Killaby and brought her outside to his truck. The bouncer gave Smith her purse to look after. That was the last time anyone saw Killaby.

Neighbors living near Omar’s heard a woman screaming that night and contacted the police. Unfortunately, the cops couldn’t find anything suspicious.

Evidence began mounting up against Dennis Smith for Carolyn Killaby murder

Store clerks at a nearby 7-11 later told investigators that they had seen Smith with blood on his shirt and a bloody rag wrapped around his hand. He told them he’d been in a bar fight.

The following day, Smith was back at Omar’s, where he told the other regulars that a strange man had approached his truck the other night in the parking lot and had sworn at Killaby and dragged her from the vehicle. He claimed the man had hit him with a stick.

A few days later, the cops examined Smith’s truck and found it had been damaged in a fire. Smith claimed he’d dropped a cigarette, but forensic detectives said a cigarette didn’t start the fire.

The investigators also found blood, which they thought likely matched Killaby. A friend of Smith’s came forward to say he’d asked her if certain cleaning products could destroy DNA.

In the meantime, Smith fled the state. The following year, a member of the public came forward to say Smith was living in Florida after seeing the case on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries.

Dennis Smith arrested and convicted for killing Carolyn Killaby

In July 1996, Smith was arrested in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. During the arrest, the killer tried to reach for the arresting officer’s gun and was shot by the cops.

Smith recovered from his wound and was sentenced to life without parole. In 2004, he hanged himself in his cell. The twisted killer never revealed what he did with Killaby’s remains.

In 2002, Washington State settled with the Killaby family for $2.8 million after it emerged that the Department of Corrections had failed to keep track of Smith following his parole in a previous murder case.

In 1983, Smith was convicted for strangling his sister and leaving her naked body in some bushes. At the time, he was sentenced to life, but incredibly, he was paroled after just 11 years.

MISSING: Carolyn Killaby is available to download now on Crime Junkie.