Boyfriend sentenced for murder

A Syracuse, Neb., man found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his live-in girlfriend will be at least 65 years old before he is released from prison.

Ronald G. Smith, 45, was sentenced Monday in Nebraska City, Neb., to 40 to 70 years in prison for smothering Terri N. Harris, 51, with a pillow on Dec. 23, 2008.

Smith, who fled to the St. Louis area after the slaying, was also sentenced to five to 10 years for second-degree forgery and five to 10 years for theft in the amount of $2,000.

Otoe County District Court Judge Randall Rehmeier ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. Smith will be 65 before he is eligible for parole and 80 before he must be released.

Otoe County Attorney David Partsch recommended a sentence of life without parole.

“We do believe that justice has been served here,” Partsch said. “There’s nothing that can bring back Terri Harris. That loss is something her family and Mr. Smith will have to deal with.”

Public defender Michael Ziskey did not return a call seeking comment on the case.

Harris and Smith shared a rental house in Syracuse, which is about 50 miles southwest of Omaha.

About 6:30 p.m. Christmas Day, Harris’ relatives went to her house in Syracuse, found her body and contacted law enforcement.

On the night that Harris’ body was discovered, investigators searched the house and discovered several items missing, including her cell phone, money and her 1996 red Chevy Blazer.

Two days later, on Dec. 27, Smith called 911 from a motel seven hours away in Collinsville, Ill. He told Illinois police dispatchers that he thought he had killed someone in Nebraska. After officers arrived, Smith barricaded himself in his hotel room but surrendered after a standoff. He was not armed.

According to Smith’s arrest warrant, he told Nebraska State Patrol investigators that he and Harris got into an argument in the bedroom of their house Dec. 23. Smith indicated that during the argument he pushed Harris, causing her to fall to the floor.

Smith stated that after Harris fell to the floor, he placed a pillow over her face and held it there. Smith indicated that he broke into Harris’ safe and removed two checks for Harris’ checking account and one check belonging to him. He told investigators he also took her cell phone and the keys to her vehicle and drove off.

He then cashed the checks, which totaled $3,900, forging Harris’ signature. After receiving the money, Smith left town. He then drove to the St. Louis area.

Contact the writer:

444-1272, kevin.cole@owh.com