Case 352: Gregory Smart
New Hampshire couple Pamela and Gregory Smart had only recently married when their lives took a shocking turn. Gregory was murdered in their home in what appeared to be a burglary gone wrong. As Pamela navigated life in the public eye as a newly grieving widow, an anonymous phone call to the police unravelled a complex web of secrets that no one could predict.
Team:
Anonymous Host - narration
Milly Raso - research, writing
Mike Migas - production, music
Anthony Telfer - audio editing
Comments (19)
Crazy. I was listening and once he mentioned the teens showing up at the funeral I realized this was what to die for was based on. Never heard the whole true story. Such a good episode.
FYI - Vic’s name was Greggory not Gregory
The sentences those boys got for being manipulated into commiting a crime were harsh. They weren't criminal masterminds, serial killers or psychopaths but impressionable young people used by an evil sociopath who is lucky she was only sentenced to be confined for the rest of her life. Pamela not only destroyed the life of Gregory and his family but also the lives of those young people and I'm sure her own family has suffered as well. Anyone that supports her should take a long hard look at themselves.
It's nearly 1 AM here in Canberrafornia and I'm up late working as always as an Upside Down Australian Artist (Australian Artists, or Pennys as we call them, typically draw things inverted due to the Coriolis Effect; Upside Down Pennys draw those inverted drawings inverted again, making them appear 'right side up' to typical right-uppies like yourselves). I hear the phrase at the end of the podcast that begins with "some feminists claim..." and I said "BULLLLLLL-SHYYYETTTT" so loudly that I startled my pet drop bear Boo Boo. Yeah those kids were given shorter sentences and let out earlier than ol' Pam and it's because THEY PLEAD GUILTY. If Ms. Jean Claude Van Pam wanted less time in the Graybar Hotel then she would have had to admit her guilt in ordering the murder of her husband and she wouldn't, so she stays. It has nothing to do with whether or not she owns a vagina, or as we call them in Australia, [THIS JOKE HAS BEEN REDACTED FOR OBVIOUS REASONS]. Charlie Manson (probably) didn't kill anyone (and wasn't on trial for the person he may or may not have killed anyway) but nevertheless died in prison, and sources close to the organ assure me that he had a penis attached to him at some point. A woman who thinks another woman should get a better or worse outcome as a result of her own actions isn't a feminist, she's an idiot at best and a radfem at worst, a true JK Rowling of carceral punishment. In the United Staties of Americaur (as we say in Australia) if you murder someone or facilitate the murder of someone they put you in jail. I famously have no opinion on whether or not carceral justice is cruel and unusual punishment but currently it IS the law there. If Pamela didn't want to be Plamela-Dunked (that one was a bit awkward, sorry) into the Slamme..la (even worse, listen it's been a long few weeks for me) then she shouldn't have based her entire life off of that lady from Addams Family Values. That was a choice, ma'am. You chose to be Debbie. Anyway hug your loved ones as tight as you can. Hopefully you will never have to find out how important that is.
"Some suspected Pamela might have had ulterior motives." YA THINK?!
Never knew about this case. It was a good listen! Glad she got a life sentence and I hope the kids are are doing alright.
Casefile never repeats itself and makes every case their own. Thank you for always delivering and glad to have you back in my ears!
She really should have been charged with abusing Billy, I appreciate the nuance of calling it what it was throughout the episode, language matters:)
It was a marked difference from how they described what happened to Tiahleigh Palmer. So I assume that they learned from that experience and are trying to be more accurate.
Excellent timing since Pam's case is back in the courts and she has a potential chance to get out! 👏🏻
Yes this case has been done to death (apologies for the pun), but Casefile does everything better so I’m looking forward to the whole episode.
I didn’t realize these kids were my age- we would have all graduated the same year. This is so sad and I’m grateful for the detail
Great episode. Thanks, team. Could someone remind me how we go about suggesting episodes/cases for future episodes to the writing and research team?
This is Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix move To Die For. Great movie!!
“To Die For”
Oooo good choice. Can’t wait to listen later today!
It’s one of those cases which got incredible press coverage at the time and since then (yes I’m old enough to remember this when it occurred.) Also I live not far from where this occurred and this is the most detailed account I’ve encountered.
Wasn't this released already?
This case has been covered extensively by other podcasters/youtubers etc