In a quiet Littleton, Colorado neighborhood, the life of 47-year-old Kanokwan “Nok” Smith, a Thai-American woman, came to a tragic end on November 1, 2020. That evening, her husband, Scott Smith, called 911, claiming he had shot his wife in self-defense, alleging she had attacked him with a butcher knife. When Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies arrived at their home on West Ottawa Avenue, they found Kanokwan deceased.
Scott Smith was taken into custody at the scene.
Initially arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, Scott Smith was released a few days later after the district attorney's office determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges at the time. This decision was met with disbelief and outrage from friends and neighbors who described Kanokwan as a kind, gentle, and hardworking woman who held multiple jobs to provide for her family, including as a card dealer at the Ameristar Casino in Black Hawk. Many who knew her found the claim of self-defense difficult to believe, stating that she wouldn't hurt a fly. It was also revealed that Scott Smith had filed for divorce just a few weeks before the shooting. The couple had a 10-year-old daughter.
Despite the initial release, investigators continued to work on the case for the next ten months. Their persistent efforts uncovered more evidence, leading to Scott Smith's re-arrest in September 2021. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and domestic violence. The investigation also implicated his mother, Theresa Rino, who was arrested and charged with accessory to a crime, attempt to commit tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence. It was discovered that after his initial arrest, Scott had called his mother and asked her to remove surveillance cameras from their home.
In February 2023, Scott Smith, then 47, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting the murder was planned, citing his obsessive behavior over finances related to their pending divorce and suspicious actions on the day of the killing. Friends and family also told police that Kanokwan was afraid of her husband and had been trying to get away from him, though she had allowed him to live in the basement of their home. On March 8, 2023, Scott Smith was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder of his wife. Kanokwan's family, watching the proceedings virtually from Thailand, remembered her as a selfless and hardworking mother, sister, and daughter.
