In the early hours of June 1, 2017, the community of Shady Side, Maryland, was disturbed by the sound of gunshots near Scott Town Road and Nick Road. When officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department arrived at the scene at approximately 12:36 a.m., they discovered the bodies of Leslie Michael Smith, a 48-year-old male, and his partner, 44-year-old Linda Lynn McKenzie. Both victims had sustained apparent gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that the couple lived together on a houseboat in the Rock Hold Creek area of Deale.
The events leading up to the tragic incident began with a roadside mishap. Smith and McKenzie's vehicle had become stuck in a ditch, leading to a loud argument between the two. This disturbance in an area known for drug trafficking allegedly drew the attention of Kirk Byron Matthews, a 56-year-old resident of Shady Side. Prosecutors later argued that Matthews, who was reportedly an enforcer for local drug dealers, was provoked by the disruption the couple was causing. Witnesses reported seeing a man, later identified as Matthews, confronting the couple and threatening them before the shooting.
As the investigation progressed, homicide detectives identified Matthews as the primary suspect. It was learned that he was known to the victims and that a verbal altercation had preceded the murders. Surveillance footage captured near the crime scene shortly after the gunshots were heard showed a man, identified by multiple witnesses as Matthews, walking away from the area carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. On September 4, 2017, an arrest warrant was issued for Matthews, who was already incarcerated on unrelated charges since June 3, 2017. He was subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and firearm use in a felony violent crime.
In October 2018, an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court jury found Kirk Byron Matthews guilty on two counts of second-degree murder and other related charges. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison. However, the legal proceedings did not end there. In a subsequent turn of events, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals overturned Matthews' conviction in February 2021. The appellate court cited errors in the original trial, specifically regarding the improper allowance of expert testimony concerning the height of the suspect, which was a critical point of contention during the trial. Matthews has maintained his innocence, and the appeals court's decision opened the possibility of a new trial.
