In 2007, the quiet community of Shelby in Orleans County, New York, was unsettled by the discovery of a local resident's violent death. Kevin M. Smith, a 47-year-old male, was found deceased inside his own home, the victim of multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators immediately classified the case as a homicide, beginning a long and complex inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. The initial investigation yielded few clues, as the crime scene offered no immediate answers, and authorities found themselves with little forensic evidence to proceed with. There was no clear motive, no weapon was recovered, and no eyewitnesses came forward. Detectives noted that the attack within the privacy of his own residence suggested the perpetrator may have been familiar with the layout of the house or was brazen in their approach.
The investigation into Kevin M. Smith's murder remained without significant progress for several years. It wasn't until mid-2010 that a potential lead emerged from a separate and distant criminal case. Steven Patrick Rebert, who was already under scrutiny for the 2005 murder of William 'Bill' Fickel in the neighboring Genesee County, was apprehended in Pennsylvania for a double homicide. A forensic examination of Rebert's computer revealed a disturbing pattern of internet searches. He had obsessively looked for information on three specific killings: the double homicide in Pennsylvania for which he was arrested, the murder of William Fickel, and the 2007 shooting death of Kevin M. Smith. This digital trail, combined with the fact that Rebert had previously lived on East Shelby Road, prompted investigators in Orleans County to officially name him a person of interest in Smith's death.
Further investigation uncovered several parallels between the cases that seemed to link Rebert to the Orleans County homicide. Authorities learned that Rebert owned a. 30-30 rifle, the same caliber of weapon used in the Fickel killing, and noted that all three New York victims had been shot. A computer forensics expert later testified that Rebert's laptop contained numerous queries about these cases in the weeks leading up to his 2010 arrest. Despite these compelling connections, investigators have acknowledged that they lack the direct physical evidence, such as ballistics matches or DNA, to formally charge Steven Patrick Rebert with the murder of Kevin M. Smith. Although convicted and serving multiple life sentences for the homicides in Pennsylvania, Rebert has never been arrested or indicted for the murders in New York. The homicide of Kevin M. Smith remains an open and unsolved case, with Steven Patrick Rebert continuing to be the primary person of interest.
