Dad PALMER SMITH has been sentenced to 1 year in county jail and 6 years probation for lying about his wife's 2007 "disappearance."
In reality, many cases like this are simply domestic homicides where the body has been well hidden or disposed of. There are certainly a lot of warning signs that this case is one of them. The "estranged" son says the father was very physically abusive and that his mother was "scared to death" of him. He also had a history of torturing and killing animals--also a very bad sign.
Of course, the defense made a very big deal about the fact that the police weren't called. In reality, many victims of domestic violence do not call the police--or cease calling the police. When these guys are out on bail almost immediately--and angrier than ever--what's the point, except to create a paper trail?
http://www.wsmv.com/news/23754655/detail.html
Son: Estranged Dad Beat Missing Mom, Family
Marcie Smith Missing Since 2007
Reported By Larry Flowers
POSTED: 10:01 am CDT June 1, 2010
UPDATED: 7:19 pm CDT June 1, 2010
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- A Murfreesboro man was sentenced Tuesday to one year in county jail and six years probation for lying to police about his wife's 2007 disappearance.
Related: Watch This Story
In April, Palmer Smith was convicted of tampering with evidence and filing false statements with police.
His wife, Marcie, vanished three years ago during a shopping trip. He initially speculated that she had been kidnapped.
Smith will remain free on his current $200,000 bond until after a judge hears a motion for a new trial, which has yet to be filed by his attorney, John Norton III.
Smith will also have to pay restitution for man hours that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Murfreesboro Police Department incurred investigating his wife's disappearance. He will have to pay $619.47 to MPD and $2,808 to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for its investigation.
The defense will have 30 days to file a motion for a new trial. It could be more than a year before Smith serves time.
Smith's estranged son testified Tuesday for the state that his father had a history of beating his mother, his sister and him.
"It got to a point that he kind of enjoyed doing it," said son Kevin Smith. "That's when it went from belts to boards or wire or fist or foot."
"Years back, we used to spank and punish kids for mischievous things," said Palmer Smith. "But nowadays, you can't touch a child. But years back you could. I did punish my kids for what they did, as did my wife."
Kevin Smith said his mother was "scared to death" of her husband. He took pictures of his mother after Palmer Smith claimed she fell down a flight of stairs in the family's home in Covington, Tenn., in 2004.
"He almost killed her that day," said Kevin Smith.
Palmer Smith was never arrested or charged. Kevin Smith also testified that his father abused a litter of puppies.
"He had a hammer in his hands, and he said, 'This is what we do to things we don't want to live,' and he made us stand there and watch him. And he took and hit them in the head and killed them," said Kevin Smith.
But the defense tried to attack the son's credibility, as Kevin Smith said he never called any law enforcement agent on his father.
The judge did not consider these abuse allegations while trying to come up with an appropriate sentence. But he did consider the testimony of salon worker Teresa Goodwin, who said Palmer Smith harassed her months after his wife disappeared.
"He told me he was going to purchase a funeral for his missing wife and asked me if I would like to go out and have crab legs and see a movie," Goodwin said.
Palmer Smith faced a maximum 10-year prison sentence. His attorney had said he could receive a much lighter sentence because the man had no prior convictions.
After the sentencing hearing, Palmer Smith walked past his son, staring him in the eyes. His attorneys grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
He has put his house up for sale and is living in a camper trailer.
Previous Stories:
April 23, 2010: Palmer Smith Guilty In Evidence Tampering Trial
October 7, 2009: Husband Indicted Again In Wife's Disappearance
September 28, 2009: Charged Husband's Trial May Be Delayed
June 29, 2009: Trial Date Set For Charged Husband
May 18, 2009: Charged Husband's Hearing Moved To June
March 4, 2009: Husband Of Missing Woman Arrested
