Andrew Lavern Smith

Overview

Andrew "Andy" Lavern Smith (1960 – December 18, 1998) was an American serial killer whose reign of terror unfolded along Interstate 85 in South Carolina between 1980 and 1983. He was convicted of four murders and one attempted murder, ultimately receiving a death sentence for the final two killings. His execution on December 18, 1998, marked a grim milestone as he became the 500th person executed in the U.S. since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

Quick Facts

• Born: 1960, Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
• Died: December 18, 1998 (aged 38), Broad River Correctional Institution, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
• Cause of Death: Execution by lethal injection
• Criminal Status: Executed
• Convictions: Murder (2 counts)
• Criminal Penalty: Death
• Victims: 4 (2 convictions)
• Span of Crimes: 1980–1983
• Date Apprehended: June 1, 1983

Early Life

Andrew Smith was born in 1960 in Anderson, South Carolina, to parents Ruth and Willie Smith. Growing up, he was part of the Fairview African American (FAA) Methodist Episcopal Church community. After graduating from Pendleton High School in 1978, Smith pursued further education at Tri-County Technical College, where he earned a certificate in auto body repair.

Murders

The dark saga of Smith’s criminal activities began on February 24, 1980, when a female convenience store clerk was abducted at gunpoint. After enduring a horrific assault, she was thrown off an overpass on Interstate 85, yet she miraculously survived to tell her tale.

Fast forward to the early morning hours of July 28, 1981. Henry Poore, a customer at the Phillips 66 gas station along Interstate 85 in Anderson, entered to find 22-year-old cashier David Evan Craig lying on the floor, gravely injured. Craig had been shot, and despite being rushed to AnMed Health Medical Center, he succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. The initial investigation yielded few clues, leaving authorities searching for answers.

Eleven months later, on June 5, 1982, tragedy struck again when 22-year-old Nirad Jay Patel was found brutally stabbed to death at the Southerner Hotel in Anderson. The investigation was hampered by a lack of leads, but the pattern of violence was becoming alarmingly clear.

Then came the shocking double murder of elderly couple Christy (85) and Corrie Johnson (80) on May 28, 1983. Friends, concerned after failing to reach the couple by phone, entered their home to a horrific scene. Both had been brutally stabbed—Christy sustained 26 wounds, while Corrie had 18. The weapon, a six-inch knife, had been taken from their own kitchen. Adding to the chilling narrative, the couple's car was missing and later discovered abandoned two miles away.

Arrest and Trial

The net began to close on Smith on June 1, 1983, when he was arrested at his workplace in an Anderson restaurant and charged with Craig's murder. Investigators had uncovered a gun violation charge from November 7, 1981, linked to Smith, and the .22 caliber revolver he possessed matched the murder weapon. Ballistics testing confirmed that the bullets found at the crime scene had come from his gun.

At the time of Craig's murder, Smith had lived near the Johnsons, but he had relocated by the time of his arrest. During questioning, Smith initially confessed to the Johnson murders, claiming he was driven to violence because they refused to lend him their vehicle. However, he soon recanted, alleging that his confession was coerced.

Prosecutors chose to pursue the Johnson murders first in the court system. Despite his initial admission, Smith's trial took a twist when he denied his guilt, insisting the confession was fabricated by law enforcement. In 1984, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the Johnson killings. Prosecutors subsequently decided not to pursue charges for the other murders, citing a desire to avoid wasting state resources, but closed those cases based on the overwhelming evidence linking Smith to them. Notably, the case of the woman who had survived a brutal beating and sexual assault in 1980 was also closed after she identified Smith as her attacker.

Imprisonment and Execution

In 1986, Smith sought to overturn his death sentence by appealing to the United States Supreme Court, arguing that one juror during his trial mistakenly believed that anyone sentenced to death would automatically receive a second trial. The court denied his appeal without providing a reason. The following year, Smith did achieve a temporary victory in the Supreme Court of South Carolina, which allowed him a retrial. However, he was ultimately convicted again and sentenced to death.

On December 18, 1998, a somber chapter in American criminal history was written as Andrew Lavern Smith was executed at the Broad River Correctional Institution. His final words—“Let’s do it”—echoed in the cold chamber, marking his place in the annals of infamy as the 500th person executed in the United States since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, following the landmark case of Gregg v. Georgia.

See Also

• List of people executed in South Carolina
• List of people executed in the United States in 1998
• List of serial killers in the United States

Sources

• Pratt, Mark (December 19, 1998). State puts double-murderer to death. The Sun News. Associated Press.
• Andy L. Smith. Anderson Independent-Mail. December 20, 1998.
• Burgess, Harvey (January 18, 1984). Police Probe Potential Link Between Smith, Other Crimes. Anderson Independent-Mail.
• Station Attendant Slain. The State. July 29, 1981.
• Kiss, Tony (July 29, 1981). Student Attendant Dies After Theft, Shooting Tuesday. Anderson Independent-Mail.
• Smith, Steve (June 6, 1982). 22-Year-Old Clerk Murdered In Anderson Motel Robbery. Anderson Independent-Mail.
• Anderson man charged with additional killings. The Greenville News. June 4, 1983.
• Gouch, John (May 30, 1983). No Suspects In Stabbing Deaths Of Elderly Anderson County Pair. Anderson Independent-Mail.
• Pendleton man charged in 4 murders. The Herald. June 4, 1983.
• Burgess, Harvey (January 19, 1984). Smith Maintains He's Innocent. Anderson Independent-Mail.
• Court denies appeal by murderer. The State. February 25, 1986.
• Bohler, Robert (October 23, 1987). Death being sought in retrial. The Greenville News.
• Pratt, Mark (December 19, 1998). South Carolina executes No. 500. Tallahassee Democrat. Associated Press.

For those intrigued by the darker sides of human nature, Smith's case serves as a chilling reminder of the violence lurking beneath the surface and the legal battles that can ensue in the pursuit of justice.