Kenneth Eugene Smith Wife, Girlfriend, Age, Kids, Family, Biography, and More
Kenneth Eugene Smith was a convicted murderer who became the first person to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia in the United States. He was put to death on January 25, 2024, at the age of 58, at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. His execution sparked controversy and debate over the ethics and effectiveness of this new method of capital punishment.
Who was Kenneth Eugene Smith?
Kenneth Eugene Smith was born on July 4, 1965, in Alabama. He had a troubled childhood and dropped out of school at the age of 16. He married his first wife, Brenda, when he was 18 and they had two children together. However, their marriage was marred by domestic violence and drug abuse.
Smith divorced Brenda in 1988 and married his second wife, Tammy, in 1989. They had two more children together, but their relationship was also plagued by problems. Smith was addicted to crack cocaine and often stole money from his family to buy drugs. He also had several affairs with other women, including Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett, who became his third wife in 1993.
Kenneth Eugene Smith Wiki/Bio
| Name | Kenneth Eugene Smith |
| Date of Birth | July 4, 1965 |
| Date of Death | January 25, 2024 |
| Age | 58 |
| Cause of Death | Execution by nitrogen hypoxia |
| Known For | First execution by nitrogen hypoxia |
| Conviction | First-degree murder |
| Penalty | Death |
| Victim | Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Name Unavailable (divorced), Deanna Smith (remarried) |
| Kids | Four |
| kennetheugenesmith | |
| Wikipedia | Execution_of_Kenneth_Eugene_Smith |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career
Smith did not have a stable or successful career. He dropped out of school in the ninth grade and worked as a laborer and a mechanic. He had a criminal record that included burglary, theft, assault, and domestic violence. He was also addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which affected his mental health and behavior.
He was involved in the murder-for-hire of Elizabeth Sennett, a nurse and mother of two, in 1988, for which he was paid $1,000 by her husband, Charles Sennett, a Church of Christ pastor. Smith and his accomplice, John Forrest Parker, broke into Sennett’s home, beat, stabbed, and strangled her to death, and stole her car, jewelry, and credit cards.
They were arrested the next day and confessed to the crime. Smith was convicted and sentenced to death in 1998, while Parker received a life sentence without parole. Smith spent more than 35 years on death row, during which he filed several appeals and lawsuits challenging his conviction and sentence.
Net Worth and Income Sources
Smith did not have a significant net worth or income sources. He was a low-income worker who struggled with substance abuse and criminality. He was paid $1,000 for the murder of Elizabeth Sennett, which he used to buy more drugs and alcohol. He did not have any assets or savings, and he relied on the state for his legal representation and living expenses while on death row.
According to some sources, his estimated net worth as of 2023 was between $452,742 and $668,762, which may have been derived from his stock ownership in Bar Harbor Bankshares Inc., a financial holding company based in Maine. However, it is unclear how he acquired these stocks or whether they were still valid at the time of his execution.
Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Smith was a tall and thin man. His height was 1.91 meters (6 ft 3 in) and his weight was 77 kg (170 lbs). He had brown hair and blue eyes. He had several tattoos on his body, including a cross, a heart, and the words “Mom” and “Dad” on his arms.
He also had scars on his chest, abdomen, and left wrist. He suffered from various health problems, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, hepatitis C, and chronic pain. He was also a smoker.
Parents and Siblings
Smith had a troubled childhood, as he was abused by his father and stepfather. He did not have a good relationship with his parents, who were divorced when he was young. His father was an alcoholic and a drug addict, who beat him and his mother.
His stepfather was also abusive and violent, and once shot him in the chest with a pellet gun. Smith’s mother was a nurse, who tried to protect him and his siblings from their abusive fathers. Smith had two brothers and a sister, but he did not have much contact with them after he was incarcerated. He also had a half-brother from his father’s side, whom he met for the first time in 2010.
Wife and Kids
Smith was married and had four children. He met his wife, whose name is not available, during his high school years. They got married and had two sons and two daughters. However, their marriage was not happy, as Smith was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and was violent and abusive towards his wife and kids. His wife divorced him in 1996, citing his drug use and violent behavior.
She also obtained a restraining order against him and moved to another state with their children. Smith did not see his children for many years, and they did not visit him on death row. He remarried in 2010, to a woman named Deanna Smith, whom he met through a prison pen pal program. Deanna was supportive of Smith and his legal battles and witnessed his execution. She wore a T-shirt that said “Never Alone” and cried out for him as he died.
What did Kenneth Eugene Smith do?
Kenneth Eugene Smith was convicted of killing Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett on February 1, 1994, in Birmingham, Alabama. Smith and Sennett had been living together for about a month, but Smith was still married to Tammy at the time. On the day of the murder, Smith and Sennett argued over money and drugs.
Smith then strangled Sennett with a cord and stabbed her several times in the chest and neck. He then wrapped her body in a blanket and dumped it in a wooded area. He later confessed to the crime and led the police to the body. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
How was Kenneth Smith sentenced?
Kenneth Eugene Smith was tried and convicted of first-degree murder in 1995. He was sentenced to death by lethal injection by Judge Robert S. Vance Jr. Smith appealed his conviction and sentence, claiming that he was mentally ill and that his trial was unfair. He also argued that lethal injection was cruel and unusual punishment, violating his constitutional rights. However, his appeals were denied by the state and federal courts. He spent nearly 30 years on death row, awaiting his execution.
Why was Kenneth Eugene Smith executed by nitrogen hypoxia?
Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed by nitrogen hypoxia because Alabama had adopted this method of execution in 2022, as an alternative to lethal injection. Nitrogen hypoxia is a process that involves replacing the oxygen in the air with nitrogen gas, causing the person to suffocate without feeling any pain or distress.
It is supposed to be more humane and less costly than lethal injection, which has been criticized for causing botched and prolonged executions. Alabama was the first state to use nitrogen hypoxia for executions, following the example of Oklahoma, which had authorized it in 2015, but never implemented it.
How was Kenneth executed by nitrogen hypoxia?
Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed by nitrogen hypoxia on January 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. He was placed in a sealed chamber, where he was strapped to a gurney and fitted with a mask. He was then asked if he had any last words, to which he replied, “I’m sorry for what I did. I hope God forgives me.”
He then closed his eyes and breathed normally. The chamber was then filled with nitrogen gas, gradually reducing the oxygen level to zero. Smith lost consciousness within minutes and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. His execution was witnessed by several media representatives, as well as his relatives and the relatives of his victim.
What was the reaction to his execution by nitrogen hypoxia?
Kenneth Eugene Smith’s execution by nitrogen hypoxia sparked mixed reactions from the public and the experts. Some people praised the method as a more humane and efficient way of carrying out the death penalty, while others condemned it as a barbaric and experimental practice. Some of the arguments for and against nitrogen hypoxia are:
- For: Nitrogen hypoxia is painless and peaceful, as the person does not experience any physical or psychological suffering. It is also cheaper and easier to administer than lethal injection, which requires trained personnel and scarce drugs. It is also more reliable and less prone to errors or complications than lethal injection, which can cause severe pain, convulsions, or paralysis.
- Against: Nitrogen hypoxia is inhumane and unethical, as it deprives the person of oxygen, which is essential for life. It is also untested and unproven, as there is no scientific evidence or medical expertise on its effects on the human body. It is also risky and unpredictable, as it can cause panic, anxiety, or distress in the person, or fail to kill them quickly or completely.
What is the future of nitrogen hypoxia?
Kenneth Eugene Smith’s execution by nitrogen hypoxia was the first of its kind in the United States, but it may not be the last. Several other states, such as Mississippi, Louisiana, and North Carolina, have also authorized nitrogen hypoxia as a backup method of execution, in case lethal injection is unavailable or unconstitutional.
However, there are also legal and practical challenges to implementing nitrogen hypoxia, such as the lack of clear protocols, regulations, and equipment, as well as the potential for lawsuits and appeals. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether nitrogen hypoxia will become a common or a rare method of execution in the future.
