Denice Smith

Summary

Summary of "Denice Smith" Episode – Snapped: Women Who Murder

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Introduction

In the "Denice Smith" episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, host Leon Nayfak delves into a harrowing true crime story that unravels the complexities of family betrayal, custody battles, and murder. Released on May 18, 2025, this episode examines the tragic events leading to the murder of Aaron Smith and the subsequent legal battles involving his ex-wife, Denise Smith, her sister, and Denise's boyfriend.

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The Tragic Incident

The story begins on July 23, 1997, in Cosby, Tennessee, where Harry Smith, a beloved father and campground manager, discovers his son, Aaron Smith, brutally murdered in his home.

• Leon Nayfak introduces the incident: "A beloved father and pastor is gunned down in broad daylight." ([02:09])

• Brittany Smith, Aaron's daughter, describes the discovery: "The father walked up there and discovered his son shot to death. It appeared he surprised the people that were burglarizing the house and tried to flee." ([02:15])

The investigation reveals that Aaron confronted intruders in his home, leading to a deadly shootout. Evidence at the scene includes missing valuables and a pair of unfamiliar silver handcuffs, raising suspicions about the nature of the crime.

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Background of Aaron and Denise Smith

Aaron Smith, an ordained minister, met Denise Graham at a local Blockbuster video store in 1981. Their relationship blossomed from casual meetings into marriage, despite underlying family tensions and personal struggles.

• Harry Smith reminisces about Aaron: "He was very fun, loving and very adventurous and he was the class clown and he just had that happy, bubbly personality." ([06:32])

Denise, born in 1961, had a tumultuous relationship with her twin sister, Debbie, marked by rivalry and contrasting lifestyles—Denise thrived academically and socially, while Debbie struggled with substance abuse and rebellious behavior.

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Marital Struggles and Custody Battle

After 13 years of marriage, Aaron and Denise's relationship deteriorated, culminating in Denise's affair and Aaron filing for divorce. The ensuing custody battle over their two children, Erin and Brittany, became a focal point of tension.

• Harry Smith discusses the impact of the affair: "That was when he filed for divorce and he went up the hill to live with his parents. That was a hard time for him." ([10:55])

Denise's custody claims included allegations of Aaron's abuse, which were contested and ultimately discredited during the trial.

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Discovery of the Murder and Initial Investigation

Upon finding Aaron dead, investigators note signs of a staged burglary gone wrong. Witnesses report seeing a white sedan at the campground around the time of the murder, and it's revealed that the campground's secure access code suggests Aaron knew his killers.

• Brittany Smith shares traumatic details: "She had heard their conversation. Alex looks like he had been sort of in a fight. They got the drop on him to handcuff him and start shooting him." ([28:25])

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Breakthrough Through Brittany's Testimony

A pivotal moment in the investigation arises when Brittany, the 10-year-old daughter, provides crucial information about her parents' disappearance and interactions with Denise's sister, Debbie, and Debbie's boyfriend, Alex Rivera.

• Brittany Smith recounts overhearing the murder: "Debbie said, 'Well, it's done. We hurt him pretty bad.' And Alex said, 'No, we killed him.'" ([29:05])

Her testimony links Denise directly to the murder, revealing premeditated actions involving the rental of the suspicious white Buick and the presence of Alex during the crime.

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Legal Proceedings and Convictions

The prosecution builds a strong case against Denise, Debbie, and Alex based on circumstantial evidence and Brittany's testimony. Despite their denials, the evidence leads to their conviction.

• Brittany Smith emphasizes her role: "We could not have prosecuted the case without Brittany's testimony. We had circumstantial evidence, but the direct proof basically came from Brittany's statement." ([42:12])

In June 1999, both Denise and Debbie are found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Alex Rivera also receives a life sentence in 2001 after cooperating minimally with authorities.

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Aftermath and Reflections

The episode concludes with the Smith family, particularly Harry and Brittany, reflecting on the loss and the enduring impact of the tragedy.

• Harry Smith expresses his unwavering stance: "I think she deserves to be in there because she killed my dad. And I am very fearful of what any one of the three of them would do if they got out." ([45:07])

Brittany shares her ongoing trauma and the void left by her father's absence, highlighting the profound personal toll of the case.

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Conclusion

The "Denice Smith" episode poignantly captures the unraveling of a family's facade, exposing the darkness that led to Aaron Smith's untimely death. Through meticulous investigation and the brave testimony of a young daughter, justice prevails, albeit leaving scars that underscore the enduring pain of loss and betrayal.

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Notable Quotes

• Leon Nayfak: "Dogs deserve the best, and that means fresh, healthy food." ([01:37])

• Harry Smith: "The only mystery should be where you hide the treats." ([01:37])

• Brittany Smith: "That little girl is scarred for life." ([03:10])

• Harry Smith: "Like a dream. Like a horror movie or a nightmare." ([03:35])

• Harry Smith: "She had made that allegation that Aaron Smith was abusive and had struck her and also struck the children." ([17:34])

• Brittany Smith: "It's amazing to me that a 10-year-old girl, one would have to go through this." ([29:05])

• Harry Smith: "I grieve for the childhood I didn't get to have." ([45:45])

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key events, emotional narratives, and critical insights presented in the "Denice Smith" episode of Snapped: Women Who Murder, offering listeners a thorough understanding of the case without needing to access the original podcast.

Transcript

[Leon Nayfak]

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[Harry Smith]

The only mystery should be where you hide the treats.

[Leon Nayfak]

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[Harry Smith]

Take two.

[Leon Nayfak]

A beloved father and pastor is gunned down in broad daylight.

[Brittany Smith]

The father walked up there and discovered his son shot to death. It appeared he surprised the people that were burglarizing the house and tr.

[Leon Nayfak]

As the investigation takes shape, it reveals a life in turmoil.

[Harry Smith]

The post office had been tipped off that there was drugs coming in, and.

[Leon Nayfak]

A secret affair pushes this family to the brink.

[Harry Smith]

The affair was finally the straw that broke the camel's back, and he filed for divorce.

[Brittany Smith]

His wife had left the state but his children didn't know where they were.

[Leon Nayfak]

Then a brave young voice comes forward.

[Harry Smith]

You got a 10 year old laying.

[Brittany Smith]

There in the bed pretending to be asleep listening to them. That little girl is scarred for life.

[Leon Nayfak]

And a killer willing to cash in on family bonds is unveiled.

[Brittany Smith]

In that family it's common knowledge that you won't be dead. Got the drop on him to handcuff him and start shooting him. It's like a dream. Like a horror movie or a nightmare.

[Leon Nayfak]

1997 Cosby, Tennessee. Quaint and quiet, the Campright Acres campground sits nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

[Brittany Smith]

Campground is located in a very rural area. The campsites had full services. They had electricity, water, that kind of thing.

[Harry Smith]

My family managed the campground and ran the campground. There were a lot of campers up there. That campground was such a close knit family if you will. They loved the family atmosphere.

[Leon Nayfak]

However, at 6:05pm on July 23, the Serene Campground turns chaotic when a shocking call comes in to 911.

[Brittany Smith]

I got a notification from the sheriff's department that they had received a 911 call that there had been a body found at Camp Ryan Acres off the Cosby highway and appeared to be gunshot.

[Leon Nayfak]

The caller is Harry Smith. He owns the campground and says that he's just found his son Aaron and thinks he's been shot. Minutes later, Cocke county sheriff's deputies arrive. They follow directions Harry gave the dispatcher to a cabin at the back of the property.

[Brittany Smith]

The house was a one story frame house that that was the owner's home. The body was about 13, 14ft from the front door. The father walked up there and discovered him. He was very visibly upset. He just found his son shot to death.

[Leon Nayfak]

Harry Smith directs law enforcement up a walkway toward the cabin. He's lying face down in a pool of his own blood.

[Brittany Smith]

He was shot in the ear which is not life threatening. The second shot was a shot to the back. Fatal wound was a shot to the back of the head.

[Leon Nayfak]

The deputies call for backup. Minutes later, Cocke county homicide detectives arrive along with agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. For Aaron's dad it was a terrible, terrible heartache. Everybody was actually naturally drawn to him just because of his personality. Everybody that knew him, they were traumatized.

[Harry Smith]

So much because, because this was wrong.

[Leon Nayfak]

This wasn't supposed to happen. In 1960, Jonathan Aaron Smith was born to parents Harry and Cleta. They raised Aaron and his brother in the small town of Cleveland, Tennessee. Aaron's relationship with his mom and dad.

[Harry Smith]

I mean was Just like the loving.

[Brittany Smith]

All American family, they were always cutting up together.

[Harry Smith]

My dad and his brother grew up in church. I don't know of a time when they weren't, you know, going to church on Sundays. That was always a priority. He was very fun, loving and very adventurous and he was the class clown and he just had that happy, bubbly personality. He never met a stranger.

[Leon Nayfak]

In 1981, 20 year old Aaron was at a local Blockbuster video stor when he struck up a conversation with the clerk, 20 year old Denise Graham.

[Harry Smith]

He came in one night to rent a movie and he flirted a little bit with her and she smiled back at him. But yeah, he went into Blockbuster to rent a movie and came out with a girlfriend apparently.

[Leon Nayfak]

Denise was born in 1961 to Don and Linda Graham. But Denise didn't come into this world alone.

[Harry Smith]

Don and Linda were expecting, they didn't know it was twins until the girls were born.

[Leon Nayfak]

The surprised but happy new parents dedicated themselves to raising Denise and her sister Debbie.

[Harry Smith]

They had a good upbringing. The girls never wanted for anything.

[Leon Nayfak]

By the mid-1970s, dawn landed a new job and the Graham family relocated to Cleveland, Tennessee.

[Harry Smith]

Denise was a very good student in high school. She played the flute in the band. She was very involved and she had a lot of friends in high school. But Debbie got in with the wrong crowd pretty early on. A lot of drug use, a lot of drinking. She didn't really show up for school. They were polar opposites. Debbie got brought home by the police more than once and Don would run to her rescue. Don was closer to Debbie for some reason. That really made a lot of resentment between Denise and Debbie. The girls would get in fist fights in high school and they would have to be broken up by teachers. They absolutely hated each other.

[Leon Nayfak]

Shortly after graduating high school, Denise started a job at a local Blockbuster and found her Prince charming, Aaron Smith.

[Harry Smith]

They dated for I think it was about a year or so before they decided to get married.

[Leon Nayfak]

Following the wedding, tragedy struck when Denise's mother suddenly passed away.

[Harry Smith]

Linda suddenly died of a massive. Linda was the pillar that held that Graham family together.

[Leon Nayfak]

With their mother gone, Denise and Debbie grew even further apart. Debbie drifted. She had a lot of problems. She ended up living in New York and she and Denise rarely spoke or even saw each other. Denise threw herself into starting a family of her own.

[Harry Smith]

A couple years later my parents had me. I was early, but I made it through. And a couple years later they had my brother who has down syndrome. My dad couldn't have loved him anymore. He was just Happy to have a son. When we were kids, we liked to always be outside. We would go hiking and we would stop and pick blackberries. And my dad would make a BlackBerry cobbler or a BlackBerry pie.

[Leon Nayfak]

In 1991, Erin's parents announced they'd found an investment opportunity. While on vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, they.

[Harry Smith]

Came across this campground for sale and they really liked it. My grandparents thought it would be a good addition to their retirement. So they just decided to buy that campground.

[Leon Nayfak]

There was a caretaker's home on the property that Aaron and Denise moved into. And Aaron helped his dad build another home for him and Aaron's mom. The rest of the 38 acres was rented out to campers. As Erin and Denise settled into their new home, Erin saw the opportunity to make a lifelong dream come true. Aaron became an ordained minister and started a small church right there at the campground. Denise found work as a dental assistant 30 minutes away in Sevierville.

[Harry Smith]

She just wanted to meet people and have some friends, so he was all for her being happy.

[Leon Nayfak]

But in 1995, after 13 years of marriage, Erin and Denise hit a rough patch.

[Harry Smith]

In the very beginning, it was all good, but. But as time passed, they began to venture farther apart, which was when she had the affair. My dad found out about the affair. At that point, he realized that it was finally over. I think he saw it coming for a long time, but he was trying so hard to make things work, to keep it together for me and my brother. So at that point is when he filed for divorce and he went up the hill to live with his parents. That was a hard time for him. We were his pride and joy and he would have done anything at any time for us, no matter what. It was.

[Leon Nayfak]

Until July 23, 1997, when the Smith family is left devastated. After Harry Smith discovers his son shot dead in front of his home.

[Brittany Smith]

We figured this happened sometime between 4 and 5 o' clock because he was found at 6 o' clock by his father.

[Leon Nayfak]

Based on the position of the body, investigators believe that Aaron's confrontation with his killer began inside the home.

[Brittany Smith]

It would appear that he had exited the house and was in an effort to get away from the house. He was trying to run for his life and they shooting at him back. We went and checked in the house and it looked like it had been ransacked, items had been taken, the house was in disarray, drawers open and emptied, furniture knocked over. It appeared that Aaron Smith had come home and surprised the people that were burgling and tried to flee.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators Ask Aaron's father to verify if any valuables are missing.

[Brittany Smith]

Aaron Smith's father confirmed that there were pistols missing, a gold ball that was his, and jewelry that belonged to his wife.

[Leon Nayfak]

But it's what the perpetrators left behind that's truly puzzling.

[Brittany Smith]

There were a pair of silver handcuffs that were found on a chair. His father said that they did not belong in the house. He'd never seen them before. Were they planning on handcuffing him and torturing him before they killed him? There's all kinds of things about the handcuffs that make this intriguing.

[Leon Nayfak]

After processing, the crime scene, investigators do a quick sweep of the campground.

[Brittany Smith]

We canvassed the area. There were several campers and people were at the campground because of summertime. So we talked to them.

[Leon Nayfak]

Witnesses report seeing a white sedan driving through the campground around 5pm we learned.

[Brittany Smith]

That there were two strangers that came in the campground and had sat in the commons area or a picnic area and were driving. They gave us a description of the vehicle and said that was the only strange people they'd seen the campground that day.

[Leon Nayfak]

After finishing their canvas, investigators sit down with Aaron's parents.

[Brittany Smith]

They were traumatized. This was wrong. It's like a dream, like a.

[Harry Smith]

Like a horror movie or a nightmare.

[Leon Nayfak]

They tell investigators that not just anyone can gain access to the campground.

[Harry Smith]

That car only entered that gate because the person in the car knew the code.

[Leon Nayfak]

Coming up, investigators learn of big trouble brewing in a marriage on the brink. There's a warrant out for her arrest, but they still have no idea where the kids are.

[Harry Smith]

Thought I was going on a trip. They never thought in a million years that she was gonna run and kidnap us.

[Leon Nayfak]

Tennessee investigators are at the campright Akers campground, where minister and father of two Aaron Smith has just been found shot dead.

[Brittany Smith]

The investigators found a witness who had seen a white car at the house, the campground, prior to the murder and also heard one or two gunshots.

[Leon Nayfak]

There's only one way in and one way out campground, and that road is blocked by a gate. You have to know the code to open the gate. Detectives realize it's possible Aaron knew his killer, and they ask his parents to shed some light on his background.

[Brittany Smith]

We learned from Harry that they just went through a divorce in a custody battle over the two children.

[Leon Nayfak]

Harry says the marital trouble between Erin and Denise started shortly after they moved to the campground six years earlier.

[Harry Smith]

She did not enjoy the campground life, and that may be where, like, the first tinge of something's not right really started.

[Leon Nayfak]

According to Harry, Denise's job at the dental Office put even more distance between her and Erin.

[Harry Smith]

That job in Sevierville was not a good thing for her. There were several women that worked there that were having affairs with patients and Denise was right there with them. One day she had some kind of a little wreck. My dad had to come pick her up. She was on her way to meet her boyfriend and he found out about the affair. He was very religious. He tried very hard to make that marriage work for a very long time. And I think the affair was finally the straw that broke the camel's back.

[Brittany Smith]

The feelings that he had to go through knowing that his wife was cheating on him, knowing that he was going to have to go to court and get divorced. And this was extra rough because of the situation with the custody of the kids.

[Leon Nayfak]

According to Aaron's parents, it was after he filed for divorce that the, the real drama started. Denise countersued, taking everyone by surprise when she came forward with allegations of abuse.

[Brittany Smith]

She had made that allegation that Aaron Smith was abusive and had struck her and also struck the children.

[Harry Smith]

That was the first mention of any level of abuse ever toward her, toward us, period. They were still living in the house together and things were relatively cordial up until that point. But as soon as she countersued, she had the police come escort him out of the house. The divorce battle was ugly. Denise wanted to do anything and everything she could to hurt him and take whatever she could get. She tried to portray Aaron as a monster, a monster in which he was not.

[Leon Nayfak]

Denise remained in the family home with their 10 and 8 year old children while Aaron moved in with his parents on the other side of the campground.

[Harry Smith]

When they separated, he was supposed to get visitation every other weekend with us and she would make it a point to not turn us over.

[Leon Nayfak]

Harry says that Denise presented the court with so called proof that Erin was abusive.

[Harry Smith]

There were some drawings that were presented at the divorce trial that Denise said, I drew them. It allegedly depicted abuse. Frankly, that was the only way she felt she had any chance of getting full custody of us.

[Brittany Smith]

There were specific drawings of mad people with fierce looking eyes. It was way too sophisticated for the child that it was attributed to.

[Harry Smith]

The judge determined those were drawn by Denise, not by me.

[Brittany Smith]

It appears that the judge didn't believe anything that Denise had said about her husband.

[Leon Nayfak]

Harry says just a week before the murder, Aaron was awarded full custody. But when Aaron went to retrieve his children later that day, he spotted them leaving in a car with Denise.

[Harry Smith]

I was 10. I thought I was going on a trip. Dad and mama actually Saw us leave the campground. Now, I don't think they could tell the vehicles were loaded as much as they were. He never thought in a million years that she was going to run and kidnap us.

[Leon Nayfak]

With no word from Denise for several days, Aaron reported the kidnapping.

[Brittany Smith]

His wife had left the state with his children, didn't know where they were. It was suggested that they take out an arrest warrant for custodial interference.

[Leon Nayfak]

There's a warrant out for her arrest. They still have no idea where the kids are. So this was a big cause for concern. It's now been six days since Denise vanished with the kids. As investigators absorb this new insight into Aaron's situation, Harry's phone suddenly rings.

[Brittany Smith]

I'm sitting there talking to Mr. Smith and Denise cowles.

[Harry Smith]

My papa, he just hands the phone to one of the investigators.

[Brittany Smith]

I got to talk to her, and I told her she needed to get herself back to Tennessee so we could talk to her about her husband's death.

[Harry Smith]

When the investigator told her that he was dead, he said he got no response out of her. She just listened.

[Brittany Smith]

He started questioning her about where she was and where the children were. She said she was in Florida and said that she would come back.

[Leon Nayfak]

Ten days after Denise disappeared with the children, and four days after Aaron's murder, investigators finally get word that Denise is back in Tennessee alone, and she decides to turn herself in.

[Brittany Smith]

She traveled to Tennessee. She did not bring the children. She was taken into custody on the custodial interference warrant. I wouldn't say she was cooperating. She wouldn't advise where the children were. She wouldn't talk about Aaron's death. But we had our suspicion that she was involved because of divorce and custody battle and how racorous it had been. She said she didn't know what had happened to him. She took the kids to Florida, and that was her alibi.

[Harry Smith]

She held out for a couple of days, but they wouldn't let her post bond until she turned us in. She called her aunt and uncle where we were staying and told them to bring us back.

[Brittany Smith]

The children were returned. They came and went to live with Aaron's parents.

[Leon Nayfak]

With no concrete evidence against her, investigators release Denise on bond and focus on Aaron's movements in the days before his murder. It doesn't take long to find something suspicious.

[Brittany Smith]

We had received a tip that the postal service was looking into Mr. Aaron Smith. On July 15, 1997, I received a call from the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, post office that an express mail envelope had come into that office concurrently with a phone call that said that that particular package contained illegal drugs. But there were several unusual things about this particular package.

[Leon Nayfak]

Coming up, detectives look into an nefarious claim.

[Brittany Smith]

There was a written statement said to Aaron Smith, next time, the price goes up.

[Leon Nayfak]

And a surprising witness turns the case upside down.

[Harry Smith]

They walked over to the little table and said, well, it's done. We heard him pretty bad.

[Leon Nayfak]

This friend group is a beautiful hot mess. You know, their parents, our moms weren't housewives. We can handle our own. Now this group of friends is going big and making New York City their home. Absolutely petrified, actually. Everyone in this group is gonna say what they're thinking.

[Brittany Smith]

This is so stupid.

[Harry Smith]

Oh, my God.

[Leon Nayfak]

I really don't want them to sleep together. That would be disgusting and horrible. Ugh, I love them being Messy. Next Gen NYC premieres June 3rd on Bravo and streaming on Peacock. The streets are buzzing about Bravo's the Valley. You heard about the breakups.

[Harry Smith]

I'm putting a restraining order against you.

[Brittany Smith]

I don't want this to be my life anymore.

[Leon Nayfak]

Now see how it really went down. This divorce has been very nasty. Bravo's suburban saga continues. You give carrot energy and I'm done with it. With non stop bombshells and betrayals. Tell me the tea, please. When Jason goes out, he takes his wedding ring off. I'm the mother of your child. Why can't we just not call?

[Brittany Smith]

Is the same the Valley.

[Leon Nayfak]

New episodes Wednesdays watch bravo on Peacock, Tennessee. Investigators have just learned that eight days prior to Aaron Smith's death, the U.S. postal Service received a tip that Aaron was expecting a package containing illegal substances.

[Brittany Smith]

The address on the package was to him. Return address was a fictitious suspicious address in Atlanta. But the package was actually mailed from Miami.

[Leon Nayfak]

When the inspector intercepted the package, his suspicions grew.

[Brittany Smith]

I realized by the weight of the envelope there could only be a very minute amount of controlled substances in the envelope.

[Leon Nayfak]

Inspectors devised a plan and on July 15, they put it into motion.

[Brittany Smith]

I was going to pose as a postal carrier, deliver the package, and then if the package was accepted by the intended recipient, we'd see what this whole situation was about.

[Leon Nayfak]

Aaron signed for the package and was immediately confronted by law enforcement Airing having.

[Harry Smith]

No idea that there's drugs in the box, willingly open this box in front of the officials.

[Brittany Smith]

It was a minute quantity of drugs determined to be cocaine based. There was a written statement said to Aaron Smith, next time, the price goes up. Aaron Smith immediately said, I've been set up. Which seemed a little bit reasonable at that point. He was very cooperative. He did not have any Drug record. This didn't look right. You don't send cocaine to somebody and tip somebody off about it unless there's some other motive. So we sent the express mail piece to the U.S. postal Inspection Service crime laboratory in Memphis to see if, if we could get any fingerprints.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators question if Aaron's killer may have been behind the drug setup.

[Brittany Smith]

We had with the investigation into who sent the package into high gear because we knew it could be critical.

[Leon Nayfak]

Before they get answers about the envelope, investigators receive their biggest break yet from an unexpected source.

[Brittany Smith]

Brittany Smith, the daughter of Denise and Aaron Smith, started to divulge things to her grandparents. And they're the ones that alerted law enforcement.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators arranged to meet with the 10 year old at her grandparents house.

[Harry Smith]

They weren't asking me anything. They were just letting me talk. I don't think I understood the depth of all of it.

[Leon Nayfak]

Brittany tells investigators that two days after her father was awarded custody, her mother Denise and her grandfather Don said they were going on a trip.

[Harry Smith]

We got on the interstate and they drove all night. We get to Miami and I was like, hey, this is just a vacation. We were out playing on the beach.

[Leon Nayfak]

Brittany reports they met up at a motel with Denise's twin sister Debbie, who had flown in to meet them from New York, as well as Debbie's boyfriend Alex.

[Brittany Smith]

Brittany was able to tell us her mother had rented a car and that Deborah and Alex had left Miami and took off in the car.

[Harry Smith]

The next day, Debbie and Alex got back. We're in the hotel. It was late at night. Alex actually stepped on me and woke me up. He didn't know I was away. So I heard their conversation. Alex looks like he had been sort of in a fight. They had walked over to the little table that Don and Denise were sitting at and Debbie said, well, it's done. We hurt him pretty bad. And Alex said, no, we killed him. And Denise said, was it easy? And Alex just kind of chuckled.

[Brittany Smith]

They thought that Brittany and brother was asleep. And Brittany played it. That little girl is scarred for life. It just devastating for her.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators ask Brittany if there's any other details she can recall. She says that before Debbie and Alex left, she saw something in Alex's pocket that caught her attention.

[Brittany Smith]

She had seen him with a pair of handcuffs.

[Harry Smith]

When Debbie and Alex got. He did not have the pair of handcuffs in his pocket that he had when he left.

[Leon Nayfak]

However, they did not come back empty handed.

[Harry Smith]

I noticed Alex had on a watch that I recognized as my papaw's gold nugget watch. And Debbie had on a Ring that I recognized as my grandmother's pink ice ring. And they definitely didn't have them when they left.

[Brittany Smith]

It's amazing to me that a 10 year old girl, one would have to go through this. But number two, couldn't have the very good recollection.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators focus on finding evidence to corroborate Brittany's testimony against her family.

[Brittany Smith]

We did a background on Denise, we checked on her bank records.

[Leon Nayfak]

And when detectives look at her credit card purchases, they learn that on July 21, 1997, only two days before the murder, Denise rented a white Buick in Miami. Not only does this discovery of the rental car records back up what Brittany said, it's the same color and makeup car that people in the campground reported seeing shortly around the time of the merger murder. When investigators run the plates on the rental car, they get another lead.

[Brittany Smith]

The day they murder, he got a speeding ticket south of where the murder happened, outside of Gatlinburg. Speeding ticket put them in the vicinity of the murder.

[Leon Nayfak]

From the speeding ticket, investigators learn Alex's full name, Alejandro Rivera, as well as as his current address.

[Brittany Smith]

Alejandro Rivera was living in Miami, very close to the Miami post office that the parcel had originated from.

[Leon Nayfak]

With Brittany's help, investigators are closing in.

[Brittany Smith]

A lot of times, you know, you get information that you believe is good but unable to corroborate it. But this, get this information from a.

[Harry Smith]

10 year old girl, incorporate every bit of it.

[Brittany Smith]

I'm just glad it turned out that way.

[Leon Nayfak]

But their work isn't finished just yet. Investigators still need to prove Denise's connection to the murder. She paid for the rental car. She knew what happened. Did she put Alex and her sister up to it? Coming up, investigators zero in on Denise.

[Harry Smith]

She writes that he was not going.

[Brittany Smith]

To get those children. She'd seen that.

[Leon Nayfak]

And an important piece of evidence is recovered.

[Brittany Smith]

There were five fingerprints on the outside label of the envelope.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators looking into the murder of Aaron Smith believe his ex wife Denise worked with her sister Debbie, their father Don, and Debbie's boyfriend Alex to carry out the deadly plan. They know Denise was involved, but they need more. As investigators talk to Denise's friends, it's clear that Denise didn't hide her intentions when it came to her ex husband.

[Brittany Smith]

We interviewed some people that she worked with, et cetera, and they said that she had asked they knew anybody that would kill her husband because of the divorce and because of the custody battle with the children. She had bragged at a beauty shop.

[Harry Smith]

To several people that he was not.

[Brittany Smith]

Going to get those children. She'd seen that.

[Leon Nayfak]

As investigators continue to gather more background on Denise, they get an update from the postal inspection crime laboratory. The results from the envelope of cocaine are in.

[Brittany Smith]

Our latent fingerprint examiner had come back with a report and said that there were five fingerprints on the outside label of the express mail envelope. The important thing is you have to have the fingerprints of any suspects for comparison purposes. We had the fingerprints of Denise and Debbie in the system. The fingerprints were from Deborah Grant.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators believe that the drugs were Denise's first attempt to take Aaron down.

[Brittany Smith]

The package was delivered to him on July 15th. The child custody hearings on the 17th. They might have thought that they would get him arrested prior to the child custody decision. And then, of course, the 18th, the decision was made. And then 23rd, he was killed. So very short time period and all these things happened. They were after him discrediting in the community and before that judge.

[Leon Nayfak]

When that didn't work, authorities believe Denise went back to her family to devise a more sinister strategy.

[Brittany Smith]

She contacted the sister. The sister contacted Alex and her boyfriend. They devised a plan making it look like a robbery, burglary gone bad. And they shot and killed him at the behest of Denise Smith.

[Leon Nayfak]

By August 1997, investigators have enough evidence to obtain arrest warrants for Denise, Debbie and Alex. Authorities locate Denise Smith in Cosby and place her under arrest.

[Brittany Smith]

She denied any involvement. Her story was that she took the kids to Florida and that's where she was when that happened, happened and she didn't know what happened to him. Then she lawyered up.

[Harry Smith]

We were told Debbie been living with.

[Brittany Smith]

A felon who was her new boyfriend up in New York, who was a bouncer at a strip club in New York City and sold with her prophesy.

[Leon Nayfak]

On August 22, 1997, Tennessee investigators, with the help of NYPD, head to the address.

[Brittany Smith]

They sent a plainclothes detective in there. The entry team went through the front of the apartment and apprehended her.

[Leon Nayfak]

After taking Debbie into custody, investigators search her belongings.

[Brittany Smith]

A lot of our information came from her new boyfriend who was living with her in that apartment in Queens. He told that she had discussed the burglary and that Aaron had died. She showed him jewelry that had come from the break in.

[Leon Nayfak]

In New York, investigators confront Debbie with the evidence against her.

[Brittany Smith]

First she said, you don't want me. You want my sister. I've got a twin sister. You've made a mistake. She's the one you want. I said, we want both of them.

[Leon Nayfak]

Debbie admits to making the trip with Alex.

[Brittany Smith]

Deborah admitted to Being there, but she didn't admit to being involved in the robbery and the killing. There was more or less, yes, I went with Alex, but he took me back to the motel and I don't know what happened.

[Leon Nayfak]

With Debbie and Denise in custody, authorities turn their attention to finding Alex.

[Brittany Smith]

One of the investigators checked some flight records and determined that Alex had flown from Miami to New York. Alex was moving around a lot, changed his location, he was different addresses in the city and agents in New York finally located him. About a year later, New York authorities arrested him.

[Leon Nayfak]

Authorities attempt to interview Alex, but like Denise and Debbie, he doesn't want to talk.

[Brittany Smith]

Alex didn't give any kind of statement for or against anyone other than to say he wouldn't. He didn't know what we were talking about. He wasn't involved in anything like that. When confronted with the ticket, he had to admit that he had been in Tennessee. And when confronted with the information about the white car that had been seen there at the time that the gunshots were heard, he said, oh yeah, I was there, but I only meant to scare him. He was alive when they left. That just does apply. It's obvious that he went there with the intention to kill.

[Leon Nayfak]

Investigators say Debbie and Alex ambushed Aaron inside his parents house.

[Brittany Smith]

They went in, got the drop on him, they handcuffed him. He got out of the handcuffs and Alex started shooting at him and shot at him at least three times.

[Leon Nayfak]

After the arrests, investigators speak with Denise's father, Don. The investigators believe Don was there in the motel with them in Miami.

[Brittany Smith]

It was obvious he wasn't going to cooperate though. He's not going to tell if he's involved.

[Leon Nayfak]

With Denise, Debbie and Alex behind bars. Investigators hand the case over to prosecutors. But without a confession, the case hinges on one thing. The testimony of a ten year old girl. Coming up, a daughter faces her mother in the courtroom.

[Brittany Smith]

It's amazing to me that a 10 year old girl would have to go through this, especially considering that her father had been killed. Very courageous little girl.

[Leon Nayfak]

Prosecutors attempt to explain a desperate bond.

[Harry Smith]

Debbie wanted Denise's approval so bad that she would do or say just about anything.

[Leon Nayfak]

By the summer of 1999, Denise Smith, her twin sister Debbie and Alex Rivera are all awaiting trial for the murder of Denise's ex husband, Aaron Smith. Prosecutors make the decision to try Denise and Debbie together.

[Brittany Smith]

We were concerned that if we tried them separately that Debbie would try to put it on to Denise and then we tried Denise and Denise would say no, it was Debbie and that we would not be able to convict them both.

[Leon Nayfak]

The trial begins in June. The prosecution calls their star witness to the stand, Denise and Erin's daughter, Brittany.

[Harry Smith]

I was 12 when Denise and Debbie's trial took place. It's hard to sit there on the witness stand and to tell them these terrible, miserable, horrible things about your mother. And she's sitting there staring at you like she could absolutely run through me and Debbie's sitting on the other side of the table. That was really hard.

[Brittany Smith]

We could not have prosecuted the case without Brittany's testimony. We had, like I said, we had circumstantial evidence, but the direct proof basically came from Brittany's statement.

[Leon Nayfak]

Prosecutors argue that Denise was motivated by rage and driven by a desire for control.

[Brittany Smith]

When she didn't get custody, she was going to make sure she had custody. And the one way to do that was to kill Aaron or have it done. She wanted to be the one in control, make the decisions. It was our belief that there was no limit to what she needed to do to gain control, keep control.

[Leon Nayfak]

Debbie's motive, on the other hand, is more complicated.

[Harry Smith]

Debbie wanted Denise's approval so bad that she would do or say just about anything to get Denise to pay her attention in a positive way. And Denise knew that, and she would manipulate and use that to her advantage any chance that she got. So I think Debbie agreed to do because Denise was giving her the time of day as long as she was going along with it.

[Leon Nayfak]

Despite the evidence against them, Denise and Debbie don't waver.

[Brittany Smith]

Both Denise and Debbie maintained their innocence throughout the trial. Neither one testified.

[Leon Nayfak]

In June of 1999, the trial concludes and the jury returns a verdict. Denise and Debbie are both found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

[Harry Smith]

They both got life with parole, meaning they have to serve 51 years before they're parole eligible.

[Leon Nayfak]

Two years later, Alex Rivera goes to trial for first degree murder.

[Brittany Smith]

Brittany also testified about Alex, pointed him out, said it was him that was in the motel room in Florida that left with her Aunt Debbie and came back and talked about Harmon, Aaron Smith or killing him.

[Leon Nayfak]

Alex is also sentenced to life in prison. Don Graham, father to Debbie and Denise, escapes charges related to the murder.

[Brittany Smith]

We kept investigating, trying to develop some evidence that he was a part of the murder. He was charged with being an accessory to the custodial interference and was convicted of that, but really received no punishment other than probation.

[Leon Nayfak]

Since her conviction, Denise has made several unsuccessful requests for early release.

[Harry Smith]

Denise has tried twice now to get out on clemency or to get her sentence commuted on commutation. I think she deserves to be in there because she killed my dad. And I am very fearful of what any one of the three of them would do if they got out. Alex said that he would come after me if he ever got out.

[Brittany Smith]

If he could walk through that door right now, I have no doubt in my mind that he would walk through that door, come up, put his arm around me and say, would you pray with me now?

[Harry Smith]

I grieve for the childhood I didn't get to have. I think I still grieve for the things that I know that he missed out on. You know, prom, high school graduation, major life events that he would have loved to be a part of.

[Leon Nayfak]

Aaron's parents, Harry and Kalita, were granted full custody of Brittany and her brother. Denise Smith and Debbie Graham remain in prison. They will be eligible for parole in 2048 at the age of 86. Alex Rivera will be eligible for parole in 2049 at the age of 86. And now a next level moment from AT&T business. Say you've sent out a gigantic shipment of pillows and they need to be there in time for International Sleep Day day. You've got AT and T5G so you're fully confident, but the vendor isn't responding and International Sleep Day is tomorrow. Luckily, AT&T 5G lets you deal with any issues with ease, so the pillows will get delivered and everyone can sleep soundly, especially you. AT&T5G requires a compatible plan and device coverage not available everywhere. Learn [e-mail] 5G Network.