Mandy Lemaire
Child Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Tazlina, Alaska
TIME PERIOD
1991
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
Mandy Lemaire, an 11-year-old girl from Tazlina, Alaska, was murdered on August 22, 1991, after she disappeared while walking to meet a friend. Her body was discovered on September 1, 1991, in a nearby forest, showing signs of sexual assault and fatal gunshot wounds. Charlie Smithart, a 61-year-old local man who had participated in the search for Mandy, was arrested in November 1991 and charged with first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder. Although he was convicted and sentenced to 114 years, the Alaska Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1999, and Smithart died in prison from lung cancer in December 2000 without facing a second trial. Significant evidence included the manner of Mandy's death, signs of struggle, and Smithart's unusual interest in the search efforts.
Theories surrounding Mandy Lemaire's murder include the possibility that she was abducted by a stranger while walking to meet her friend. Some community members speculated that she might have encountered a moose, which could have led her to flee into the wilderness, although this theory does not account for the circumstances of her death. There are also lingering doubts about Charlie Smithart's guilt, especially after his conviction was overturned, with some believing that he may have been wrongfully accused.
The Tragic Case of Mandy LeMaire: A Cold Road in Alaska
A Childhood Interrupted
On July 19, 1980, Amanda Lynn LeMaire, known affectionately as Mandy, was born in Anchorage, Alaska. Her life, filled with the innocence of an 11-year-old, revolved around the small community of Tazlina. But on August 22, 1991, the heart of this tight-knit Alaskan town was shattered. Mandy vanished while walking a familiar rural road, intending to meet a friend. This seemingly ordinary day would soon unravel into a chilling tale of murder, mystery, and a community's quest for justice.
An Ominous Silence
That Friday, Mandy left her home for what should have been a simple walk to meet her friend. Together, they planned to return to Mandy's house for an afternoon of play. However, when her friend reached their rendezvous point, Mandy was nowhere to be found. Hope turned to worry as her friend waited, then proceeded to Mandy's home, only to find no sign of her along the path. Alarmed, Mandy's family launched a search, scouring nearby trails and paths, but their efforts were in vain. The growing dread prompted them to notify the police, marking the start of a broader search operation.
The Community's Search and a Gruesome Discovery
The disappearance mobilized the entire community, with locals and law enforcement joining forces to scour the surrounding wilderness. The theory circulated that Mandy might have been frightened by a moose, a common occurrence in Alaska, and fled into the dense forest. A sniffer dog picked up Mandy's scent, tracking it to the designated meeting spot before it inexplicably vanished.
Ten days later, on September 1, the search ended in heartbreak. Mandy's body was discovered, bearing the grim signs of a brutal assault. She had been shot twice, once in the face and once in the head. Her small frame showed bruising on the arms, a cut near her lip, and evidence of being bound with rope. The post-mortem examination confirmed the unthinkable: Mandy had been sodomized with an inanimate object before her life was cruelly taken.
The Arrest of Charlie Smithart
The investigation took a significant turn in November when Charlie Smithart, a 61-year-old retired pipeline worker from nearby Copper Center, was arrested. Smithart had actively participated in the community's search for Mandy, but his behavior soon aroused suspicion. Charged with first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder, Smithart found himself behind bars at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in Palmer, held on a $450,000 bail.
This arrest was not without its controversies. Dave DeForest, a local acquaintance of Smithart, reported seeing Smithart's tan pickup truck near the area of Mandy's disappearance. His testimony placed the truck at the scene mere minutes before Mandy vanished. Furthermore, Smithart's cousin testified that she had seen his vehicle near the location where Mandy's body was eventually found, although she could not definitively say who was driving. During her court testimony, Smithart's sarcastic remark, “Thanks, Cuz,” only added to the tension in the courtroom.
Forensic Findings and a Trial of Complexity
A search of Smithart's truck yielded evidence linking him to the crime: two blonde hairs and fibers from the truck’s mats matched those found on Mandy's clothing. When confronted, Smithart acted peculiarly, questioning investigators repeatedly about the presence of Mandy’s hair, jewelry, or blood in his vehicle. He even made disturbing comments about his attraction to young girls.
Further forensic analysis revealed iron flecks on Mandy's clothing, consistent with welding activities—a profession Smithart was known for, with a workshop at his home. The investigation also uncovered a dark family secret: one of Smithart’s adult daughters, living in California, disclosed that her father had molested her and her sisters during their childhood.
Dave DeForest, whose testimony implicated Smithart, had his own questionable past. A convicted felon, DeForest had moved to Alaska while on probation for attempted burglary in New York. His time card from the day of Mandy's disappearance suggested he was absent from work for a brief errand, coinciding with the time he claimed to have seen Smithart's truck. However, another time card presented to his employer stated he was at work all day, casting doubt on his credibility.
The prosecution also presented testimony from a fellow inmate, who alleged Smithart confessed to the crime while awaiting trial. However, Smithart maintained his innocence, arguing Mandy had never been in his truck and that the blonde hair could belong to a friend’s son. He insisted that if he were guilty, he would have disposed of the body in the fast-flowing Copper River rather than the nearby woods.
A Verdict Overturned
Despite the defense's efforts, Smithart was convicted, his fate sealed with a 114-year prison sentence. Yet, the story did not end there. In 1999, the Alaska Supreme Court overturned his conviction, citing that the defense should have been allowed to more thoroughly challenge DeForest’s testimony and propose he might have been the actual murderer. Tragically, Smithart died from lung cancer in December 2000, never facing a retrial, leaving questions unanswered and justice unfulfilled.
Echoes in Popular Culture
Mandy LeMaire's tragic story resonated far beyond her Alaskan community. Her case was featured on the true-crime series "Forensic Files" in the episode "Sphere of Influence." The investigation drew further attention through Investigation Discovery’s series "Ice Cold Killers," in the episode titled "Fear Thy Neighbor" aired in 2014, and the special "Vanished in Alaska" in 2018.
Sources
- Daily Crime: Mandy Lemaire, 11, was raped and murdered but suspect never faced retrial | Vanished in Alaska
- Morbidology: The Controversial Case of Mandy Lemaire
Wikipedia URL: Mandy Lemaire
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Mandy Disappears
11-year-old Mandy Lemaire goes missing while walking to meet a friend.
Body Discovered
Mandy's body is found, showing signs of sexual assault and gunshot wounds.
Suspect Arrested
Charlie Smithart, a local man, is arrested and charged with Mandy's murder.
Trial Begins
The trial for Charlie Smithart begins, with evidence linking him to the crime.
Smithart Convicted
Charlie Smithart is convicted of Mandy Lemaire's murder and sentenced to 114 years.
Conviction Overturned
The Alaska Supreme Court overturns Smithart's conviction, citing trial errors.
Smithart Dies
Charlie Smithart dies in prison from lung cancer, never facing a retrial.
Mandy Lemaire, an 11-year-old girl from Tazlina, Alaska, was murdered on August 22, 1991, after she disappeared while walking to meet a friend. Her body was discovered on September 1, 1991, in a nearby forest, showing signs of sexual assault and fatal gunshot wounds. Charlie Smithart, a 61-year-old local man who had participated in the search for Mandy, was arrested in November 1991 and charged with first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder. Although he was convicted and sentenced to 114 years, the Alaska Supreme Court reversed the conviction in 1999, and Smithart died in prison from lung cancer in December 2000 without facing a second trial. Significant evidence included the manner of Mandy's death, signs of struggle, and Smithart's unusual interest in the search efforts.
Theories surrounding Mandy Lemaire's murder include the possibility that she was abducted by a stranger while walking to meet her friend. Some community members speculated that she might have encountered a moose, which could have led her to flee into the wilderness, although this theory does not account for the circumstances of her death. There are also lingering doubts about Charlie Smithart's guilt, especially after his conviction was overturned, with some believing that he may have been wrongfully accused.
The Tragic Case of Mandy LeMaire: A Cold Road in Alaska
A Childhood Interrupted
On July 19, 1980, Amanda Lynn LeMaire, known affectionately as Mandy, was born in Anchorage, Alaska. Her life, filled with the innocence of an 11-year-old, revolved around the small community of Tazlina. But on August 22, 1991, the heart of this tight-knit Alaskan town was shattered. Mandy vanished while walking a familiar rural road, intending to meet a friend. This seemingly ordinary day would soon unravel into a chilling tale of murder, mystery, and a community's quest for justice.
An Ominous Silence
That Friday, Mandy left her home for what should have been a simple walk to meet her friend. Together, they planned to return to Mandy's house for an afternoon of play. However, when her friend reached their rendezvous point, Mandy was nowhere to be found. Hope turned to worry as her friend waited, then proceeded to Mandy's home, only to find no sign of her along the path. Alarmed, Mandy's family launched a search, scouring nearby trails and paths, but their efforts were in vain. The growing dread prompted them to notify the police, marking the start of a broader search operation.
The Community's Search and a Gruesome Discovery
The disappearance mobilized the entire community, with locals and law enforcement joining forces to scour the surrounding wilderness. The theory circulated that Mandy might have been frightened by a moose, a common occurrence in Alaska, and fled into the dense forest. A sniffer dog picked up Mandy's scent, tracking it to the designated meeting spot before it inexplicably vanished.
Ten days later, on September 1, the search ended in heartbreak. Mandy's body was discovered, bearing the grim signs of a brutal assault. She had been shot twice, once in the face and once in the head. Her small frame showed bruising on the arms, a cut near her lip, and evidence of being bound with rope. The post-mortem examination confirmed the unthinkable: Mandy had been sodomized with an inanimate object before her life was cruelly taken.
The Arrest of Charlie Smithart
The investigation took a significant turn in November when Charlie Smithart, a 61-year-old retired pipeline worker from nearby Copper Center, was arrested. Smithart had actively participated in the community's search for Mandy, but his behavior soon aroused suspicion. Charged with first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder, Smithart found himself behind bars at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in Palmer, held on a $450,000 bail.
This arrest was not without its controversies. Dave DeForest, a local acquaintance of Smithart, reported seeing Smithart's tan pickup truck near the area of Mandy's disappearance. His testimony placed the truck at the scene mere minutes before Mandy vanished. Furthermore, Smithart's cousin testified that she had seen his vehicle near the location where Mandy's body was eventually found, although she could not definitively say who was driving. During her court testimony, Smithart's sarcastic remark, “Thanks, Cuz,” only added to the tension in the courtroom.
Forensic Findings and a Trial of Complexity
A search of Smithart's truck yielded evidence linking him to the crime: two blonde hairs and fibers from the truck’s mats matched those found on Mandy's clothing. When confronted, Smithart acted peculiarly, questioning investigators repeatedly about the presence of Mandy’s hair, jewelry, or blood in his vehicle. He even made disturbing comments about his attraction to young girls.
Further forensic analysis revealed iron flecks on Mandy's clothing, consistent with welding activities—a profession Smithart was known for, with a workshop at his home. The investigation also uncovered a dark family secret: one of Smithart’s adult daughters, living in California, disclosed that her father had molested her and her sisters during their childhood.
Dave DeForest, whose testimony implicated Smithart, had his own questionable past. A convicted felon, DeForest had moved to Alaska while on probation for attempted burglary in New York. His time card from the day of Mandy's disappearance suggested he was absent from work for a brief errand, coinciding with the time he claimed to have seen Smithart's truck. However, another time card presented to his employer stated he was at work all day, casting doubt on his credibility.
The prosecution also presented testimony from a fellow inmate, who alleged Smithart confessed to the crime while awaiting trial. However, Smithart maintained his innocence, arguing Mandy had never been in his truck and that the blonde hair could belong to a friend’s son. He insisted that if he were guilty, he would have disposed of the body in the fast-flowing Copper River rather than the nearby woods.
A Verdict Overturned
Despite the defense's efforts, Smithart was convicted, his fate sealed with a 114-year prison sentence. Yet, the story did not end there. In 1999, the Alaska Supreme Court overturned his conviction, citing that the defense should have been allowed to more thoroughly challenge DeForest’s testimony and propose he might have been the actual murderer. Tragically, Smithart died from lung cancer in December 2000, never facing a retrial, leaving questions unanswered and justice unfulfilled.
Echoes in Popular Culture
Mandy LeMaire's tragic story resonated far beyond her Alaskan community. Her case was featured on the true-crime series "Forensic Files" in the episode "Sphere of Influence." The investigation drew further attention through Investigation Discovery’s series "Ice Cold Killers," in the episode titled "Fear Thy Neighbor" aired in 2014, and the special "Vanished in Alaska" in 2018.
Sources
- Daily Crime: Mandy Lemaire, 11, was raped and murdered but suspect never faced retrial | Vanished in Alaska
- Morbidology: The Controversial Case of Mandy Lemaire
Wikipedia URL: Mandy Lemaire
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Mandy Disappears
11-year-old Mandy Lemaire goes missing while walking to meet a friend.
Body Discovered
Mandy's body is found, showing signs of sexual assault and gunshot wounds.
Suspect Arrested
Charlie Smithart, a local man, is arrested and charged with Mandy's murder.
Trial Begins
The trial for Charlie Smithart begins, with evidence linking him to the crime.
Smithart Convicted
Charlie Smithart is convicted of Mandy Lemaire's murder and sentenced to 114 years.
Conviction Overturned
The Alaska Supreme Court overturns Smithart's conviction, citing trial errors.
Smithart Dies
Charlie Smithart dies in prison from lung cancer, never facing a retrial.