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Palmer Man Charged with Murder, Armed Home Invasion Robberies
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A federal grand jury in Anchorage has indicted John Pearl Smith II, age 30, of Palmer, for the murders of Wasilla residents Ben Gross and Crystal Denardi on June 5, 2016.
According to the indictment, Smith attempted to rob people he believed were involved in trafficking drugs on several occasions, brandishing firearms each time. On the last occasion, he allegedly shot and killed Gross and Denardi, as well as shot a third individual, identified as “R.B.”
The indictment alleges that Smith committed the murders after substantial planning and premeditation, and after having been previously convicted of a gunpoint robbery in Alaska in 2006. This makes him eligible for the federal death penalty, but the decision will ultimately be made by the Attorney General of the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder said, “The connection between drugs and violence is inextricable, and we have been directed by the Attorney General to take aim at violent crime in our communities by working with our state and local partners.”
The investigation into Smith’s crimes was a collaborative effort between the Alaska State Troopers, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Alaska Bureau of Investigation and the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit MatSu Office.
Smith faces either life in prison or the federal death penalty if convicted. Indictments are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This indictment comes as part of a larger effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat violent crime in Alaska. Recent cases have included charges of kidnapping, carjacking, and firearms-related crimes.
Smith’s indictment is a stark reminder of the dangers of violent crime and the importance of partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in keeping our communities safe.
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Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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