Gayno Gilbert Smith

Serial Killer

Gayno Gilbert Smith: The Iowa Family Murders

Background

Gayno Gilbert Smith was born on January 23, 1938, in Keokuk County, Iowa. He became responsible for the deaths of six relatives during two separate episodes in southeastern Iowa between 1961 and 1962. Smith is sometimes described as a serial killer because the murders occurred at different times, but he is also classified as a mass murderer because five victims were killed during a single prolonged attack at one rural farmhouse. Smith's childhood was reportedly unsettled. His parents divorced when he was about twelve, after which he moved with his mother through parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska. As a young man, he briefly served in the United States Marine Corps before receiving a medical discharge. He later lived in Colorado but eventually returned to Iowa, where he stayed with relatives and supported himself through farm labor and other temporary work. People who knew Smith often described him as quiet, polite, and capable of working hard. Nothing in that outward appearance prepared his relatives or neighbors for the violence that followed. His crimes were especially disturbing because every person he killed belonged to his own extended family, and several of the victims had given him a place to live when he needed assistance.

The Disappearance and Murder of Juanita Smith

In 1961, Smith was staying near Hedrick, Iowa, with his father and stepmother, Marcella "Juanita" Smith. Juanita disappeared during October 1961. Relatives became concerned when she stopped visiting, telephoning, and appearing at the hospital where her husband was recovering from injuries suffered in an automobile accident. When family members attempted to contact Juanita, Smith reportedly offered changing or misleading explanations. At various times, he suggested that she was in a hospital or had left the area. Her family remained suspicious because she had not collected her belongings or contacted anyone close to her. After his later arrest, Smith admitted that he had killed Juanita following a confrontation at the family property. Accounts of his confession indicated that he struck or beat her, concealed her body, and attempted to prevent relatives from discovering what had happened. Her remains were eventually recovered after Smith directed investigators to the location. The precise day of Juanita's death has not been established consistently in surviving public accounts. Her murder is generally dated to October 1961 near Hedrick in Wapello County, Iowa. Because an exact date could not be reliably verified, only the month and year are included. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Andrew McBeth Age: (51), Date of Death: 1962-05-27

Suspected Victims:

Marcella "Juanita" Smith , Date of Death: 1960

Gayno Smith - Wikipedia