Do you know who killed Arlene Angela Byrd and Antonio Darrelle Smith in 2010? On a summer evening in Salisbury, Maryland, a call for a welfare check on July 18, 2010, led to a grim discovery that shattered the community. Inside an apartment in the 500 block of Emory Court, police found the bodies of 31-year-old Arlene Angela Byrd, a Black/African American female, and 26-year-old Antonio Darrelle Smith. The initial shock gave way to a complex homicide investigation as details of their final hours began to emerge.
The night before, Arlene and Antonio had been out at a party at a local restaurant, Brew River, leaving together around 3 a.m. to head back to Antonio's apartment. It is believed that upon their arrival, they were confronted by one or more individuals who were waiting for them.
The hours that followed were filled with terror. Investigators believe that both Arlene and Antonio were subjected to torture for nearly two hours before their lives were brutally taken. An autopsy would later reveal that Arlene Byrd died from multiple stab wounds, while Antonio Smith's death was a result of asphyxiation. The Maryland State Police Homicide Unit took the lead in the investigation, collecting evidence from the scene and conducting numerous interviews. Forensic analysis pointed to the murders occurring between the hours of 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. that Sunday morning.
In the years that have passed, the double homicide of Arlene Byrd and Antonio Smith has remained a painful open wound for their families and the Salisbury community. While investigators have identified several persons of interest, no suspects have been officially named, and no arrests have been made. The case, which has been described as an urban legend with circulating rumors, went cold for a period. However, in December 2020, it was announced that the Maryland State Police were re-examining additional evidence in the hopes of uncovering new leads. Police have indicated a belief that Antonio Smith was the intended target of the attack and that there were likely residents in the apartment complex who were present during the incident and may hold crucial information. The families of Arlene, known affectionately as "Twin," and Antonio, nicknamed "Butter," continue to wait for justice, holding onto the hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to solve this devastating crime.
