Denice Smith
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What happened to the beloved father and pastor?
inspired by the hit podcast against the odds comes the gripping guidebook how to survive against the odds learn how to handle whatever nature throws at you through gut-wrenching true stories of life or death situations this might just be the most important book you'll ever read go to survivalguidebook.com to get your copy of how to survive against the odds today or visit your favorite bookstore a beloved father and pastor is gunned down in broad daylight The father walked up there and discovered the son shot to death. It appeared he had surprised the people that were burglarizing the house and tried to flee. As the investigation takes shape, it reveals a life in turmoil. The post office had been tipped off that there was drugs coming in.
And a secret affair pushes this family to the brink. The affair was finally the straw that broke the camel's back, and he filed for divorce. His wife had left the estate with his children and nowhere to go. Then a brave young voice comes forward. You got a 10-year-old laying there in a bed pretending to be asleep, listening to them. That little girl is scarred for life. And a killer willing to cash in on family bonds is unveiled. In that family, it's common knowledge that you won't be dead. Got to drop on him, to handcuff him, and start shooting him. It's like a dream, like a horror movie or a nightmare.
1997, Cosby, Tennessee. Quaint and quiet, the Campwright Acres Campground sits nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Campground is located in a very rural area. The campsites had full services. They had electricity, water, that kind of thing. My family managed the campground and ran the campground. There were a lot of campers up there.
What led to the shocking discovery of Aaron Smith's body?
That campground was such a close-knit family, if you will. They loved the family atmosphere. However, at 6.05 p.m. on July 23rd, the serene campground turns chaotic when a shocking call comes in to 911. 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 Wright Acres off of Cosby Highway that appeared to be gunshot. 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. The house was a one-story frame house that was the owner's home. The body was about 13, 14 feet from the front door.
The father who walked up there and discovered him was very visibly upset. He just found his son shot to death. Harry Smith directs law enforcement up a walkway toward the cabin. He's lying face down in a pool of his own blood. He was shot in the ear, which is not life threatening. The second shot was a shot to the back. The fatal wound was a shot to the back of the head.
What was the state of Aaron Smith's family life?
The deputies call for backup. Minutes later, Cocke County homicide detectives arrive, along with agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. For Aaron's death, 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 so much because this was wrong. 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, I mean, was just like the loving all-American family. They were always cutting up together. My dad and his brother grew up in church. I don't know of a time when they weren't 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.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What happened to the beloved father and pastor?
0:20–2:34
2
What led to the shocking discovery of Aaron Smith's body?
2:34–4:11
3
What was the state of Aaron Smith's family life?
4:11–7:29
4
What role did Denise play in the tumultuous marriage?
7:29–13:03
5
How did Aaron's divorce impact his life?
13:03–19:49
6
What were the details surrounding Aaron's tragic death?
19:49–30:43
7
What evidence pointed to the involvement of Denise?
30:43–36:55
8
What happened after Denise disappeared with the children?
36:55–45:27