When a Killer Calls

1. A Community's Fear Amplifies a Killer's Power

If a sweet, innocent girl like Shari Smith could just disappear like that, no one in the community felt safe.

Fear as a weapon. The abduction of Shari Smith and Debra May Helmick instilled widespread fear, disrupting daily life and creating an atmosphere of suspicion. This fear empowered the killer, allowing him to manipulate the community and evade capture.

Community impact:

• Parents became hypervigilant, restricting children's activities.
• Strangers faced suspicion, and unfamiliar cars were scrutinized.
• Gun sales increased as residents sought to protect themselves.

Exploiting vulnerability. The killer thrived on the community's fear, using it to amplify his sense of control and invincibility. This underscores the importance of community resilience and support in the face of such tragedies.

2. The Mundane Masking Monstrous Intent

He was neither glorying in his hideous crime, nor feeling bad about it.

The banality of evil. The killer's ability to blend into everyday life, appearing as an ordinary neighbor or helpful acquaintance, highlights the disturbing reality that monstrous intent can often be masked by a mundane facade. This makes it difficult to identify potential threats and underscores the importance of vigilance.

Deceptive normalcy:

• Neighbors described the killer as a "nice, quiet guy" and "helpful."
• He held down a job and maintained a seemingly normal routine.
• This normalcy allowed him to evade suspicion and operate undetected.

The power of disguise. The killer's ability to maintain a facade of normalcy allowed him to exploit the trust and goodwill of those around him, making it easier to carry out his crimes. This underscores the importance of looking beyond surface appearances and recognizing the potential for evil to hide in plain sight.

3. Profiling: Seeing the Unseen

Singularity is almost invariably a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more difficult it is to bring it home.

Behavioral clues. Criminal profiling relies on analyzing crime scene details, victimology, and offender behavior to develop insights into the perpetrator's personality, motivations, and potential next steps. This helps investigators narrow their search and develop proactive strategies.

Key profiling elements:

• Victimology: Understanding the victim's characteristics and lifestyle
• Crime scene analysis: Identifying patterns and indicators of offender behavior
• Psycholinguistics: Analyzing language used in communications to reveal personality traits

Proactive strategies. Profiling can also be used to develop proactive strategies, such as tailoring media messages or staging events to lure the offender out of hiding or encourage him to make a mistake. This underscores the importance of using psychological insights to gain an edge in the investigation.

4. The Cat-and-Mouse Game: A Killer's Signature

I want to tell you one other thing. Shari is now a part of me—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Our souls are now one.

Power through communication. The killer's repeated phone calls to the Smith family were not merely a means of taunting them but also a way for him to exert control, manipulate their emotions, and bask in the attention he was receiving. This communication became a signature aspect of his crimes.

Elements of the game:

• Providing false hope and then dashing it
• Demanding specific actions from law enforcement
• Expressing a twisted sense of connection to the victim

Psychological gratification. The killer derived immense satisfaction from playing this cat-and-mouse game, using it to reinforce his sense of power and superiority. This underscores the importance of understanding the psychological motivations behind criminal behavior.

5. Hope as a Weapon: The Victim's Last Stand

I Love you mommy, daddy, Robert, Dawn, & Richard and everyone else and all other friends and relatives. I’ll be with my father now, so please, please don’t worry!

Grace under pressure. Shari Smith's Last Will & Testament, written while she was held captive, demonstrates extraordinary courage, faith, and concern for her loved ones. This act of defiance became a powerful symbol of hope and resilience in the face of unspeakable evil.

Elements of the letter:

• Expressions of love and gratitude to her family and friends
• Reassurance that she was at peace and with God
• Instructions for her funeral and requests for her loved ones to move on

A legacy of courage. Shari's letter served as a source of strength and inspiration for her family and the community, reminding them of the importance of faith, love, and resilience in the face of tragedy. This underscores the enduring power of the human spirit to triumph over adversity.

6. The Mirror Image: Exploiting Obsession

This thing got out of hand, and all I wanted to do was make love to Dawn. I’ve been watching her for a couple of weeks . . .

Transference of obsession. The killer's confusion between Shari and her sister, Dawn, revealed a deep-seated obsession with a specific type of victim. This obsession became a vulnerability that investigators could exploit.

Exploiting the connection:

• The killer's phone calls often focused on Dawn, seeking her attention and approval.
• He expressed a desire to "make love" to Dawn, revealing a twisted fantasy.
• This obsession provided a means of communication and potential manipulation.

A dangerous game. Using Dawn as bait was a risky strategy, but it offered the potential to lure the killer out of hiding and bring him to justice. This underscores the difficult choices law enforcement must make in high-stakes investigations.

7. Justice Tempered by Grief: The Aftermath

We’re trying to get this person to surrender. He needs help, and we want him to get it . . . He sounds as if he is afraid; as if he doesn’t know whether to take his own life or turn himself in.

The weight of loss. Even with the killer apprehended, the Smith and Helmick families were left to grapple with the enduring pain of their loss. The community also struggled to heal and regain a sense of safety.

The long road to recovery:

• Families faced ongoing emotional and psychological challenges.
• The community grappled with fear and distrust.
• The legal process brought further stress and trauma.

Finding closure. While justice can provide a sense of closure, it cannot erase the pain of loss. The Smith and Helmick families' resilience and determination to honor their loved ones serve as a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.

8. The Profile's Validation: A Chilling Confirmation

We are very optimistic this will allow us to bring other resources to bear on the case.

The power of prediction. The accuracy of the criminal profile developed by the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit was validated by the killer's characteristics and behavior. This underscores the value of profiling as an investigative tool.

Key profile elements:

• White male in his thirties
• Overweight and unattractive
• History of sexual deviancy
• Meticulous and organized

A roadmap to the killer. The profile provided investigators with a roadmap to the killer, helping them narrow their search and focus their resources. This underscores the importance of using psychological insights to guide law enforcement efforts.

9. The Unraveling: From Control to Capture

I can’t live with myself, Charlie, and I need to turn myself in and I’m afraid, and you’re a very intelligent person, and I want you to be there with Sheriff Metts and all [the] officers he wants at his home in the morning, and you answer the phone.

The facade crumbles. As the investigation intensified and the pressure mounted, the killer's carefully constructed facade began to crumble. His erratic behavior, conflicting statements, and increasing desperation revealed his true nature.

Signs of desperation:

• Contradictory statements and shifting alibis
• Increased anxiety and paranoia
• Attempts to manipulate and control the investigation

The final act. The killer's attempts to evade capture ultimately proved futile, as his own actions and words led to his downfall. This underscores the importance of persistence and attention to detail in law enforcement investigations.

10. The Lingering Shadow: A Community Scarred

I won’t believe I’ve graduated until they find her. A part of our family is missing.

Enduring impact. The Smith and Helmick cases left a lasting scar on the community, forever altering its sense of safety and security. The memory of these tragedies serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and community support.

Long-term effects:

• Increased fear and distrust among residents
• Heightened awareness of the potential for violence
• A renewed commitment to protecting children and vulnerable individuals

A call to action. The Smith and Helmick cases serve as a call to action, urging communities to come together, support one another, and work to prevent future tragedies. This underscores the importance of community resilience and collective responsibility in the face of evil.

Last updated: April 24, 2025