On the evening of October 8, 2016, a tragic event unfolded in Wichita, Kansas, ending the life of 55-year-old Donna O'Neal, a Black/African American female. The incident occurred at her home in the Water's Edge Apartments, located near Central and Waco. An armed intruder broke into the apartment with the intention of committing a robbery.
During the course of the break-in, an altercation occurred, and the intruder shot O'Neal multiple times.
She sustained gunshot wounds to her abdomen and legs. Emergency services were called to the scene, and O'Neal was transported to a local Wichita hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide led police to identify Robert E. Smith as the suspect. In May 2023, a Sedgwick County jury convicted Smith for his role in O'Neal's death. The 44-year-old Wichita man was found guilty on multiple counts, including first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, and attempted aggravated robbery.
In July 2023, a Sedgwick County District Judge sentenced Robert E. Smith to a lengthy prison term for the murder of Donna O'Neal. He was ordered to serve 74 and a half years to life in prison for the crimes committed on that fatal evening in October 2016. The sentencing brought a measure of closure to a case that had remained in the justice system for several years.
