. Although he wasn't often there, Smith built up a rapport with the officers in the probation and marshal's divisions, according to Joe Sharkey. This case leaves a lot to be desired! 1989 murder of Susan Daniels smith by FBI agent Mark Putnam This story was one of the very first true crime stories that I followed and is in part the reason I am obsessed with true crime in general. Susan dropped out of school in seventh grade due to her family's financial difficulties. Murder of Susan Daniels Smith at the hands of FBI agent Mark Putnam This story was one of the very first true crime stories that I followed and is in part the reason I am obsessed with true crime in general. He took a life. Eastern Kentucky manslaughter case featured on TV show - WYMT . In exchange, he was allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter.. Aint America wonderful! She prayed for a Prince Charming to come to her rescue, and when good-looking. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. But after getting a divorce, Susan and Kenneth continued living together. Susan and Kenneth eventually divorced, although they kept sharing their home with each other and their children. Might not have even been a manslaughter. He placed Susan in the trunk of his rental car. Putnam was the first FBI agent to be charged in a homicide.[4]. Pike Co. informant's killing featured on Investigation Discovery Susan Daniels Smith (1961-1989) - Find a Grave Memorial Do the research. The case, which caught the attention of local and national news outlets, was the first reported instance of an FBI agent committing homicide. An affair that eventually ended when Putnam strangled Smith. He could of walked out interviews and been a free man. r/TrueCrimeDiscussion - Murder of Susan Daniels Smith at the hands of I believe you are incorrect about that. Susan did not once put her children first nor did Mark. Ridiculous. According to The Cinemaholic, Putnam met up with Smith once more for what would be the last time. Ward said she would be paid $50,000 for helping with the movie. . Stop with trying to appear like youre helping a race or ANY underprivileged community and actually DO Something about it! Putnam and Susan met during this visit to Kentucky. Susan Daniels Smith was born in 1961 in Matewan, West Virginia, to Sidney "Sid" Daniels, an unemployed former coal miner, and Tracy Daniels, a housekeeper. Susan Smith's Drug Use, Sex with Guards Explored on 'Cellmate - People Wild Bill Hickok: Fortune Leaves Him in the Lurch, https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/white-people-s-war-on-western-civ/, Helene Knabe: Pioneering Doctor and Murder Victim, George Joseph Smith: Bridegroom Makes for Unusual Serial Killer, Annie Le: Insider Murder Ends a Promising Life, Frank Howard: Strange and Sensational Murder for Hire, Tony Baekeland: Odd Son, Troubled Mother, and Murder, Eric Witte: Mother Manipulates Boy to Commit Startling Murder, Lethal Lovers: Sensational Case of Love and Murder. She wasnt pregnant. Putnam, 30, of Sunrise, Fla., entered a guilty plea to one count of felony manslaughter in Ms. Smiths death. All rights reserved. And now to, you know, see her in a movie, you know, about my hometown-even though it was a dark part of our towns history, said local man and Riverfill 10 employee Jonathan Collins. To hell with that. I couldnt find any information related to this. Later, the medical examiner found that Kathy died due to a combination of pancreatitis and hepatic steatosis, according to the Journal Inquirer. And.. According to what Susan told friends, they met in motels for sex. [5], Despite being sentenced to 16 years in prison, Putnam served only 10 years due to good behavior, and was described as a "model inmate". Based primarily on Huggins' ability to elicit a confession, Putnam pled guilty and was convicted of strangling is his pregnant informant, Susan Daniels Smith, in a fit of rage. . It will forever be a win in my book. Putnam had become cool in his attitude toward her, something that worried Susan greatly as she desperately tried to hold onto him. But I had pleaded guilty to murder in 2001 of a Chicago police man and got out 2012 for good model. Truly Shameful. The next evening, he dumped her off an old coal mine road about nine miles north of Pikeville. I read a number of comments that he got off light and probably so. Should he have know better yes, but Susan had a role in it as well. However, the couple started to have a conflicted relationship, highly compromised by drug abuse. We finally showed white America how it feels when the justice system gets it wrong. Movie crew scouting central Kentucky for locations - WLKY American FBI informant. You know, and rumors aside about anything, you know, you should always treat people with dignity, said Collins. #Betrayed Series Premiere: Mom Becomes FBI Informant To Protect Kids From Abusive Partner https://t.co/zaH1JTj8h1 pic.twitter.com/3DITRy835G, Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) August 24, 2016, FBI Agents Sex Affair With Informant: He Made Her Fall In Love, Then Dumped Her Literally. Connecticut native Putnam was 27 years old and just out of the FBI Academy when he found himself stationed in Pikeville, Kentucky, a small Appalachian town three hours from Lexington with a practically unsupervised two-agent outpost. For a whole year, Susan Daniels Smith (Sue Smith), who was four months pregnant, was missing. He said he placed the body in the trunk of his rented car and dumped it the following evening off an old coal mine road about nine miles north of Pikeville. Written, hosted, produced by Erica KelleyResearched by Erica KelleyEdited by Chaes GrayOriginal GraphicArt by Coley HornerOriginal Music by Rob Harrison-Gamma Radio, Major Source: Above Suspicion by Joe Sharkey, https://www.amazon.com/Above-Suspicion-Joe-Sharkey-ebook/dp/B01N49MWZH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TSQXJQASEJND&keywords=above+suspicion+book&qid=1567612166&s=gateway&sprefix=Above+Suspicion%2Caps%2C252&sr=8-1, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pikeville,_Kentucky, https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2000-09-29-0009292462-story.html, https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrime/comments/c1tys4/1989_murder_of_susan_daniels_smith_by_fbi_agent/, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-07-07-mn-2951-story.html, https://tvcrimesky.com/2019/04/19/susan-daniels-smith-mark-putnam-fbi-killer-above-suspicion-pikeville-update-today/1514, https://joesharkey.com/2016/07/21/__trashed-2/, https://www.apnews.com/782fcc8b1c55b5c5a9b9eff10b35096f, https://www.journalinquirer.com/archives/former-fbi-agent-from-coventry-due-for-release-from-prison/article_22d7dc50-bb6c-5b1a-ac9c-b22905d2b879.html, https://bestofswla.com/2014/12/05/meet-smiths/, The Killing of FBI Informant Susan Daniels Smith. Im not white and I have to roll my eyes to that foolish question! He still did quite a bit of time considering Compared to many cops for instance..who never serve time at all for murder! Your out of touch. The people who are obsessed with it, theyre the racist. The Old Crime is New Again newsletter is a monthly email covering a topic that has not appeared in the blog. The case may have been over, but Susan and Mark continued to meet. She was strangled at age 28 by her handler and lover, a FBI Agent. While Mark Putnam and Susan Smith were working together, she started hanging around the courthouse looking for him. A movie by the same name was filmed in and around Lexington and Harlan in 2016 starring Emilia Clarke of Game of Thrones as Smith. Karla Ward: 859-231-3314, @HLpublicsafety. As a black person, I cheered for OJs acquittal for every Emmet Til who was lynched for looking at a white woman wrong, & for every black man wrongfully convicted, & for every Rodney King. People dont say this out of white guilt, they say it because they either believe black people or they have witnessed it first hand like I have. She did not deserve to die over being insulted & upset. When Putnam arrived in 1987, Lockhart was being released from prison after serving seven years out of his 18-year sentence. Why is everyone talking about race? By all accounts, Susan Smith fell head over heels for the FBI agent. But this narrative of being stricken with guilt ultimately plays into the idea that Putnam is a noble man who "snapped" because a woman pushed him too far and was so remorseful that he felt compelled to confess. While Mark Putnam always wanted to be an FBI agent, Carl Edwards "Cats Eyes" Lockhart said that he wanted to be a bank robber ever since he was a child, Joe Sharkey writes in "Above Suspicion." This isnt a black/white issue? [8][9], The case was the subject of The FBI Killer (1992), a book by American investigator Aphrodite Jones. Ep67: the Killing or FBI Informant Susan Daniels Smith is available everywhere now #fbi #pikeville #kentucky #pikevilleky #murder #holler #hillbilly #southernfriedtruecrime Susan Smith (ne Daniels 1961[3] June 8, 1989) was an American FBI informant. In this one they had nothing besides him failing the polygraph which is not admissible in court! Had he been a black FBI agent, there is a good chance he might have recouped as well as Putnam after serving his sentence. Whats your point ? Putnam was the oldest of three children, and while Barbara worked taking care of the children, Walter worked as a truck driver for Sears, according to "The FBI Killer" by Aphrodite Jones. Putnam reportedly confessed because he got overwhelmed with the guilt. Theres a long history of killers with higher socioeconomic status than their victims getting softer sentences than what their crime alone deserved. [4] Early life Isnt it a shame it wasnt of one of your own he kindly murdered, whom you unseemly waited for the return of their body! As an informant, Susan, who was 25 at the time, relayed the shotgun she'd seen with Lockhart that hinted at the possibility of another grand bank . lame prosecution The blood shrank the glove. The case received nationwide attention. FBI Special Killer Agent | Mark Putnam / Susan Daniels Smith Case Analysis Dr. Todd Grande 1.27M subscribers 149K views 11 months ago This video answers the question: Can I analyze the case. A black person would have been given life to death sentence in the 1980s /90s. Then he went home to his family in Florida. In 1987, an ambitious rookie FBI agent came to Pikeville, Kentucky for his first posting out of the academy. And if a black man murders the governors white daughter, u still think its 10 for him? Well now. In October 1986, Putnam graduated from the FBI Academy and shortly thereafter, married Kathy Putnam, the daughter of a wealthy real estate developer. He subsequently confessed, pleaded guilty to strangling Smith,[4] and told authorities where to find her body. Afterfailing, he confessed to Smith's murder on June 4, 1990, and told police where to find her body. He couldnt handle it, the brother said. Then keep that good deed all to yourself instead of trying to bank on social points. Eventually, Susan Daniels Smith became pregnant and Mark Putnam wanted to distance himself from Smith before the affair could ruin his marriage. All Rights Reserved. Its part of our culture now. I used my instincts and shot first. Since the murder, two books have been written about Susan Daniels Smiths sad story: Above Suspicion by Joe Sharkey and The FBI Killer by Aphrodite Jones. What was that piece of orange plastic(?) Regardless of where they met, the two continued their affair. It appears there was ample evidence to proffer First Degree Murder Premeditation and Deliberation which might have been deliberately or inadvertently destroyed. Youre correct Jolene. Even in the movie they mentioned 6 is the usual for manslaughter with most serving 2 with good behavior. So, he cut a deal. Putnam, 30, of Sunrise, Fla., entered a guilty plea to one count of felony manslaughter in Ms. Smith's death. The 28-year-old woman, Putnams informant and lover, was reported to have been four months pregnant when she was strangled on June 8, 1989, but medical examiners officials say they have yet to find any trace of a fetus. The movie also didnt show that Susan Smiths body was decomposing for a year before Putnam decided to tell where her bones could be found. He didnt even confess until after a year, after being a suspect and after a failed polygraph test. [1] She studied at Freeburn grade school, but dropped out in 7th grade, because of financial problems within her family. Not one scintilla or shred of evidence to bring a charge or convict this man." Southern Fried True Crime: 67: The Killing of FBI Informant Susan The reason others get much stiffer sentences will happen for a variety of reasons: the authorities have evidence, witnesses or a stronger case.sometimes the police have good interrogators who can solicit a confession or the suspects are plain ignorant or dumb? Susan grew up and attended school there until the 7th grade, when she was forced to drop out due to her family's financial insecurity, according to The Cinemaholic. Your email address will not be published. This is about an FBI agent who murdered his informate? After local townsfolk threatened his family in connection with ongoing cases, Putnam was transferred to Miami, much to his relief. Putnam was to gather evidence to convict Lockhart. What is the point of stating this? There are various accounts as to whether he approached her first or she approached him first. Its a woman who lost her life. After Mark Putnam was able to gain Susan Smith's trust, they started meeting two to three times every week. What would you do if someone were banging your head in the concrete and you had a weapon? This was also apparently the first time that an FBI agent was actually convicted of murder. Years of struggles with alcohol had compromised her health. How many times have you actively helped an underprivileged community? According to the Tampa Bay Times, Ward claimed that FBI Agent Ron Poole, Putnam's superior, not only knew about Smith's pregnancy but also disclosed to Smith information about Putnam's "alleged illicit activities." I remember when the story broke, being in the next town over, at the age of 12. It tells a mighty sad tale. But Katheryn Sizemore, Kenneth Smiths landlady and a neighbor, said it is obvious they miss their mother. In "The FBI Encyclopedia," Michael Newton writes that Putnam graduated from the University of Tampa as a B-average student majoring in criminology. On June 8, 1989, Susan Daniels Smith was killed in the Pikeville area. After leaving it there for a day while he drove around, Putnam left the body by an old coal mining road the following evening. I wonder if he would indeed have been doing this is he was black or would have resorted to reoffending. So he did his time 2. Geez. 066: Jim Huggins - Mark Putnam, FBI Informant Murderer Sentenced to 16 years in prison, he served 10. And by his own admission, Putnam is the only person responsible for that. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Victim's Sister Haunted by Slaying a Year After FBI Agent Confessed PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) - The Riverfill 10 Cinema re-opened its doors Wednesday for the first time in more than one year, resurrecting the screens with- among other options- a movie about a local murder. Blog - Frank F. Weber, Author No Body No case! The couple was driving on a rural eastern Kentucky highway at the time and pulled off the road at Peter Creek Mountain. https://twitter.com/LyndaKelly/status/708741300259037184. Susan Smith. He spent time in prison but was released in 2000 after serving 10 years. Although Mark Putnam was now based in Miami, Florida, he returned to Pikeville in the summer of 1989 to tie up a car theft case that he had been working on. But according to Sharkey, while Putnam was away, Susan began fabricating a more involved two-year relationship between them and shouting about it from the rooftops. It is believed that the affair broke her heart. Putnam said he and his wife would adopt the child but Ms. Smith refused, and began slapping Putnam. I dream that I go and see her at a hospital and shes still alive and Im talking to her, she said. We all know OJ did it! Then, on the other, I think she saw him and her as Bonnie and Clyde.. A year later, apparently racked by guilt, he offered to lead authorities to her body. This is the story of Mark Putnam: The first FBI agent convicted of murder. I read all the comments and found it entertaining, but if you watched the movie or read the book you would know why he got 18 years. Thank you Irving, good read. on one of Susans bones? Her parents moved to Freeburn, Kentucky when Susan was an infant. Required fields are marked *. A local sheriff's deputy, Albert "Bert" Hartfield, recommended that his longtime friend Susan Smith visit Putnam to earn extra income and to help him with the case. [7], Mark Steven Putnam (born July 4, 1959) is a criminologist and former FBI agent (1987-1990). Films based on a true story often take far too many liberties with the truth. I think many times white people try to be social justice warriors and speak out for people whom they dont see as equals, thinking they are doing them a favor when its just down putting, as they ARE, of course EQUALS. This coward took away a young mother from young kids over a lie + his temper. After failing a polygraph examination, Putnam confessed and led authorities to where hed dumped Susans body. Putnam would pay her thousands of dollars for tips, while she became increasingly enamored with her handler. Prosecutor John Paul Runyon was flabbergasted. At the end of the day, Smith and Putnam are the only ones who truly know how long the affair lasted, and it's impossible to know which one of them was telling the truth. Her worried sister, Shelby, with whom she had a close relationship knew that the last person her sister was going to see was FBI agent Mark Putnam. And then she met Mark Putnam and became obsessed.Written, hosted, produced by Erica KelleyResearched by Erica KelleyEdited by Chaes GrayOriginal Graphic Art by Coley HornerOriginal Music by Rob Harrison-Gamma RadioSources at https://www.southernfriedtruecrime.com/67-the-killing-of-fbi-informant-susan-daniels-smithhttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth and @kericak (Twitter) | @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta) His inappropriate affect seemed the dead give away of a sociopath..perhaps even a psychopath. An affair that eventually ended when Putnam strangled Smith. He was 22 at the time, she was 15. Sometime in mid-1988, they began a sexual relationship. All this talk about his skin color determining the amount of time he had to serve is absurd! From last weeks mob murder in Beverly Hills, we travel to Pikeville, Kentucky. He flew into West Virginia when he had business in Lexington, Jones said. Matewan is at the heart of the area embroiled in the infamous nineteenth century Hatfield-McCoy feud. Jim Huggins says that Above Suspicion, Wall Street Journal reporter Joe Sharkey's book on the Mark Putnam murder case, is an accurate account of the events that resulted in the murder of Susan Smith, Putnam's pregnant informant. [4] Putnam insisted he and his wife Kathy could adopt the baby but Smith refused. Plus I believe his conscience was eating at him. Putnam had become involved in a risque sexual affair with Susan Daniels Smith, who by all accounts was from the rough side of town. Throughout all this, Putnam, 31, also has remained silent. And then she met Mark Putnam and became obsessed. Blog - Frank F. Weber, Author The story of slain FBI informant Susan Smith of Pikeville will be featured on an episode of the new series The Perfect Suspect, which airs at 9 p.m. Thursday on Investigation Discovery. I dont care what color he is. It seems like it wont go away, Ward said of the case. Film crews were in Harlan County in 2016, recording a movie called Above Suspicion. The pay, however, for an FBI . I was raised in a terrible situation and you can choose to raise above it at some point. While visiting Pikeville to wrap up a case, Putnam took Smith on a drive to Peter Creek Mountain one night. And now, as movie theaters re-open, the Riverfill 10 is showing the movie on the big screen, starring actress Emilia Clarke. Unfortunately shes correct. They were not concerned about Justice being served; they only wanted the Black man to be found not guilty. And according to "Above Suspicion," there was a lot of money to be given out to informants. However, mid-1989 saw him back in Kentucky to wrap up a car theft investigation. Susan met Kenneth Smith in 1977 when she was just 15 and he was 22. But thats only part of the story. Based on a true story. He pleads to a lesser crime. While they were driving on an isolated country road on June 8, she told him she was pregnant. Truly sick and sad on so many levels.. to excuse this behavior for any reason is exactly why this world is crashing so hard and fast now. . Hoping to expand his web of informants, Putnam set up a meeting with Kenneth and Susan in order to convince them to cooperate in the case against Lockhart, according to "The FBI Encyclopedia.". 8 to 30 years for a Class B felony. Simpson acquittal. Have you got friend together to paint or repair a him? Witnesses offer conflicting accounts, Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Some people have suggested that he confessed to the slaying to hide something worse from authorities, but his younger brother, Tim Putnam, said he believes that Mark just could not bear the guilt. However, the history is too long of black men being wrongfully treated by the justice system. There, in 1989, FBI Agent Mark Putnam killed an informant with whom he was having an affair. All that was left of Susan was skeletal remains. This story has been shared 402,023 times. The Girl From Lonesome Holler - Joe Sharkey