On a tragic Father's Day in Roy, Utah, the life of a 6-year-old Caucasian girl named Tylee Smith was cut short. On the evening of June 21, 2015, concerned family members went to the Smith family home to check on them after not hearing from them throughout the day. What they discovered inside would send shockwaves through their quiet neighborhood. Tylee, her 2-year-old brother Blake, and their mother, Shawna Smith, were all found deceased.
The subsequent investigation by the Roy Police
Department painted a grim picture of the events that had transpired. Law enforcement quickly determined that the incident was a triple murder-suicide. The preliminary investigation revealed that all three family members had died from gunshots. Tylee's father, Russell Smith, was identified as the suspect in the killings. After taking the lives of his wife and two young children, he then turned the gun on himself. His gunshot wound was determined to be self-inflicted.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that while the family had no prior history of domestic violence calls to their residence and were described by neighbors as a quiet family, there were underlying marital problems. Reports indicated that Shawna Smith had been planning to leave her husband. According to a search warrant, Russell Smith's sister had contacted the police, expressing concern that he had been drinking and had a gun in the house. The discovery of the bodies was made by a family member who went to the home. Tylee was found on the living room floor, and her mother and brother were found in other parts of the house. Police were not looking for any other suspects in connection with this devastating family tragedy.
