The Neighbor Next Door: The Murder of Brett W. Smith

In October 2008, the quiet streets of North Canton, Ohio—a place known for safety, family, and small-town calm—were shattered by an act of horror that still defies belief.

Thirty-four-year-old Brett W. Smith was found brutally murdered and decapitated inside his own home at Evergreen Mobile Home Park. His killer wasn’t a stranger or a drifter. It was the man who lived just across the fence — William D. Perry, a neighbor whose rage and instability turned deadly.

Through court records, forensic analysis, and first-hand accounts, this episode of Dark Dialogue unravels the story of a man whose only mistake was trusting that home meant safety. You’ll hear about the decade-long peace shattered overnight, the haunting discovery made by Brett’s mother, and the exhaustive investigation that brought Perry to justice.

But more than the violence, this story is about who Brett was — a gentle, kind man who lived with health challenges yet met the world with quiet strength. It’s about his mother, Judy, who endured the unimaginable: burying not one, but two sons, and carrying on with grace.

Join John and Angela as they explore how the illusion of suburban safety can collapse in an instant — when the real monster isn’t hiding in the shadows… but living next door.

🕯️ Calls to Action

🖤 Support the mission: Become part of the Dark Dialogue Collective, a community dedicated to remembering victims and pursuing truth.

📜 Adopt a Victim: Help keep their stories alive by carrying forward the name and memory of someone who can no longer speak for themselves.

🌐 Visit: www.darkdialogue.com — for case files, victim tributes, and ways to get involved.

📧 Contact: [e-mail] — send research tips, personal reflections, or case insights.

📰 Subscribe on Substack: Access extended case notes, behind-the-scenes research, and exclusive network updates.

💬 Follow, rate, and share: Your reviews and shares keep these stories alive — and help honor victims like Brett by making sure their voices are never forgotten.

Dark Dialogue Podcast Network Keep searching. Keep questioning. Keep remembering. Keep listening. And above all — keep the dialogue alive.

Episode Transcript

John (00:11):
October, 2008, the leaves in North Canton, Ohio, it turned to shades of
rust and fire families were stringingorange lights, carving pumpkins, and
preparing for the rituals of Halloween.
It was the kind of suburban neighborhoodwhere safety was assumed, where
the changing season meant footballgames, crisp nights, and nothing more

(00:36):
sinister than the chill in the air.
But in one home, on a quietstreet, horror took root.
Not in the form of a campfirestory or a midnight movie, but.
In the most brutal reality imaginable.
34-year-old Brett w Smith lived there.
Brett was a son, a neighbor, a man withhis own struggles and his own dreams.

(01:01):
No one of those around him is a personwith a gentle way and a ready laugh.
He wasn't a headline, he was part of thefabric of a community and pr, a presence
familiar to those who live nearby.
And yet in October of 2008, Brett'slife was ended in a way that defies
reason he wasn't just murdered.

(01:23):
He was decapitated inside his own home.
The violent so grotesque that evenseasoned investigators struggled
to process what they found.
The man responsible wasn't a stranger.
Passing through town wasn't afigure hiding in the shadows.
He was a neighbor, William D. Perry,the man who lived just across the fence.

(01:47):
The man whose face wasfamiliar on the street.
That betrayal of proximity, the evil bornfrom just next door, is what makes this
story linger long after the crime itself.
When police entered Brett's home,they found not only the evidence of a
life stolen, but the evidence of a ofhorror carried to its furthest point.

(02:10):
Brett's body left behind.
His head concealed a crime, notdriven by a moment of passion.
Not a robbery gone wrong, butsomething darker harder to
comprehend for the community.
The shock was immediate and lasting.
Neighbors who had believed they knewthe people living beside them were

(02:31):
forced to confront a terrifying truth.
You can never fully know whathappens on the other side of a
wall or behind a closed door.
And in this case, the man everyone thoughtwas simply another resident had had
became a monster hiding in plain sight.
What makes this case so chilling isn'tonly the brutality of the murder, it's the

(02:56):
way it collapsed, the illusion of safety.
Brent wasn't out late, he wasn'tany dangerous part of town.
He wasn't living a life that shouldhave brought him into contact
with that level of violence.
He was at home and yet home becamethe setting of his last moments.
Tonight we remember Brett w Smith, notfor the horror of how his life ended, but

(03:22):
for the man he was before it was stolen.
And we examine how a crime this savage,this unthinkable, could unfold in the
middle of an ordinary neighborhood at thehands of the man who lived just next door.
Because sometimes the scarieststories aren't fiction at all.

(03:42):
Sometimes they aren't whispered aroundcampfires or conjured on screen.
Sometimes they live acrossthe fence in the house.
You pass every day behindthe smile of the neighbor.
You thought you knew this is not a movie.
This was real.
This was the murder of Brett w Smith.

(04:10):
Hey Angela.
How's it going today?

Angela (04:13):
Hey, John.
It's good.
How are you?

John (04:15):
I'm good.
Yeah, I have absolutely zero complaints.

Angela (04:18):
I'm sure we can,

John (04:21):
well, I can try to, if you want me to.
I don't, I don't know.
But so far, so good.
Good.
Yeah.
Friday.
It is.
Friday.
Yeah.

Angela (04:31):
Somewhere.
I'll when you upload this,but it's Friday somewhere.

John (04:35):
Yeah.
Probably will not be when Iupload this, but currently it is.
Absolutely.
Friday.
It is.
So are you familiar with this story?

Angela (04:46):
Not

John (04:47):
all right.
I've

Angela (04:48):
done some good ones for me that I don't know.

John (04:50):
Yeah, this is, wow.
This is something else.
This is quite the story, so I'd beinterested to see what you think about it.

Angela (04:58):
Okay.

John (04:58):
Are you ready to jump in?

Angela (05:00):
I'm ready.

John (05:01):
Okay.
So welcome back listeners to DarkDialogue, the podcast where we
uncover the crimes that hauntsmall towns and big cities alike.
If you like what we do and how we do it,please give us a like and a follow share
this episode and leave us a review onwhatever platform you're listening on.
So let's get this started.

(05:22):
I'm your host, John,

Angela (05:23):
and I'm Angela.
And tonight we're stepping intoone of the most disturbing October
cases you've likely never heard of.
I've never heard it.
A story of betrayal, brutality, andhorror that came not from a stranger,
but from just across the fence.

John (05:40):
That's right.
In October of 2008, 34-year-old Brett wSmith was murdered in North Canton, Ohio.
His killer wasn't a faceless intruder.
It was his neighbor William D. Perry.
What followed was a crime so grotesque.
It shocked even the seasonedinvestigators, not only because
Bret's life was taken, but becausehis body was desecrated in a way that

(06:04):
still chills those who remember it.
Before we begin, takea moment to subscribe.
Leave us a review and share this episodewith someone who needs to hear it.
Every bit of support helpskeep these stories alive.

Angela (06:18):
And as we all know, I love October.
It's not, it's not hidden.

John (06:23):
No.

Angela (06:23):
I love decorations.
I love the haunted stuff.
The, I don't like haunted houses.
I, you're gonna argue with thatbecause I really, I will throw a punch.
A person who touchesme in a haunted house.

John (06:33):
Yeah.
Well, I I'll do that too.

Angela (06:35):
Yeah.
'cause they make you sign those things,but you're not gonna say, if they touch
you and I turn around, make them signsomething that they're not gonna sue
if I throat punch them for touching.
Yeah.
So, yeah.
Anyway, the, the eerie thrill inthe air though, I do love that.
However, cases like this one or thereason real life always outs, shines
anything, a horror movie to conjure upbecause Brett's murder wasn't fiction.

(06:56):
And it wasn't fun.
It was brutal reality.
And it happened in theheart of that thought it

John (07:02):
was

Angela (07:02):
safe.

John (07:03):
That's right.
This isn't about costumesor campfire stories.
This is about the man, Brett wasthe violence that ended his life
and the unsettling truth thatsometimes the scariest monsters
don't live in the shadows at all.
They live next door.
And now Angela, again, you havesome location details for us.

Angela (07:23):
Thanks to you.

John (07:24):
Hey.
That's all right.
I'm not gonna lie.

Angela (07:27):
Thanks to my fearless leader who, uh, came through in a clutch.
We have some location information,so North Canton, Ohio as sitting.
That began as New Berlinin 1831, founded by German.
It's not gonna get old.
What?
Right?
18. Emphasize the 18.

John (07:46):
I know you'll have to do a poll and ask the listeners.
It doesn't get old to me.

Angela (07:49):
It get old.
Founded by German settlers lookingfor farmland and quiet stability.
Back then, population numbered just a und.
But by mid 19 hundreds, north Cantonhad transformed into a thriving
industrial suburb built around theriver company, the same rover that
made vacuum cleaners a household name.
When the factory was in full swing,this little city symbolized middle

(08:12):
class church kind of place wherepaychecks came on Fridays and kids rode
bikes until the streetlights came on.
But by the time of Brett w Smith'smurder in 2008, the fixture had changed.
We plan had closed its doors the yearbefore ending more than a century
of local manufacturing and sendingshockwaves through the community

(08:33):
population hovered around 16,500,only a modest increase from the 1960s.
Despite decades of suburbansprawl, north Canton had matured.
Stable older fire.
It was a place built on routine wheremost people knew their neighbors and
crime was something that happened else.
According to FBI, uniform crimereports from that era, violent

(08:55):
crime in North Canton averagedfewer than 20 incidents per year.
A fraction of the national averagetowns crime sat at roughly one third.
The state average for Ohio property crimeslike petty theft or vandalism made up.
Most of the calls to murderswere nearly non-existent.
And it's fact between 2000 and 2008,the city recorded zero homicides.

John (09:18):
Wow.
That's a

Angela (09:19):
insane,

John (09:20):
yeah, that's impressive.

Angela (09:21):
I, I, I say insane is not a good thing to say, but
in this field, that's insane.

John (09:28):
Yeah.

Angela (09:29):
It's not something We don't

John (09:30):
hear that a lot.
Yeah.

Angela (09:32):
That statists from Calm made what happened in Evergreen Mobile
Home Park feel almost surreal.
Like an earthquake striking blackbrown evergreen itself sat on the
city's fringe, tucked behind rows ofmaple trees and utility lines, pocket
community or retirees, working classfamily and residents on fixed incomes.
Coexisted in the easyrhythm of small lot living.

(09:54):
Most homes were single wides, chainlinkfences, porch lights left Bernie through
the night rent average just $300 a month.
Affordable enough forpeople like Brett Smith.
Those carving out independence despitefinancial or health limitations.
In 2008, north Canton's PoliceDepartment had a staff of about 25
sworn officers supported by countydetectives for major incidents.

(10:17):
City prided itself in quickresponse times and low use of force.
That infrastructure reflected asense of trust, belief that this was
the kind of town where bad thingsdidn't happen without wanting,
which is why when a decapitation wasdiscovered and said at trailer mode.
On Balson Street, even seasonedinvestigators were stunned.

(10:40):
The numbers told one story,safety, stability, normalcy.
The reality that October told another,the reality that October told another.
Beneath the familiar rhythm of leapblowers and high school football games,
two neighbors had become enemies.
And in a city that hadn't seen a murderin nearly a decade, that single act of
violence shattered more than one liner.

(11:02):
It fractured the illusionof what safe really meant.
Today, north Canton still carries thatdual identity, the friendly treeline
town that has always been, and theplace forever, marked by one of the
most brutal crimes in Stark Countyhistory, where a city wants to find
by clean streets factory whistles.
Brett Smith's murder remains thedark reminder that even in the

(11:25):
quietest corners of suburbia,horror doesn't always come far away.
Sometimes it comes from across the fence.

John (11:32):
Alright, well thank you for that.
Beautiful.
So, Brent William Smith was bornon January the 10th, 1974 in Akron,
Ohio to Judy and Ronald Smith.
His mother Judy, worked for Stark County'smental retardation board, which I'm
sure that isn't politically correct.
No a politically correct name now.

(11:54):
But, um, while his father Ronald wasemployed by an aerospace company,
Brett grew up with a brother anda sister in a close knit family.
But tragedy struck early and hard whenhis father died in 1994 and then eight
years later, his brother also passed away.
Goodness.

(12:15):
Yeah.
This poor woman, uh, these family lossesdeeply affected Brett and drew him even
closer to his remaining family members,especially his mother and his young niece,
who became the highlight of his week.
From an early age, Brett struggledwith severe health challenges.
He suffered from epilepsy, which requiredcontinual medication and monitoring.

(12:39):
He also battled by bipolar disorder.
These conditions, yeah.

Angela (12:44):
Can they catch a break?

John (12:45):
No.
They cannot catch a break.
So these conditions, conditionscontributed to significant personal
and social difficulties, includingbeing bullied and isolated
during his high school years.
Brett graduated from Lake High School in1993 where he played percussion in the
school band and was remembered by peers asa gentle soul who wouldn't hurt a fleet.

(13:10):
Despite being picked onfor his disabilities.
He maintained a. Polite demeanorand was considered quiet and
caring by those who knew best.
After high school, Brett lived withhis mother for several years before
moving into his own trailer at theEvergreen Mobile Home Park, seeking
a greater sense of independence.

(13:30):
Employment was a consistent strugglefor Brett due to his medical conditions.
He relied largely on disabilitypayments, for se, for financial support,
although he also pursued computerrelated side work and even attempted to
start a small business from his home.
He enjoyed fixing up his trailer, oftenworking on renovations late into the

(13:54):
night, and spent much of his free timeon hobbies such as music, fishing,
gardening, and horseback riding.
Technology was a passion for him.
He loved working with computersand he aspired to help others
with technical problems.
Personal struggles were a reoccurringtheme in his life, living with

(14:15):
a speech impediment and facingongoing mental health issues.
He nevertheless clunked tightly tohis family, especially his niece.
His neighbors described Britt assomewhat of a loner, but also as
someone who was very friendly.
Once you got to know him, he was notknown to drink heavily or use drugs,

(14:36):
and although there were rumors ofquestionable visitors at his home, most
verified accounts paint a picture of a manyearning for connection and companionship
as evidenced by his MySpace page.
That'll take you back a littlebit where he described himself
as a single man looking for miss.
Right.

(14:57):
Bret's relationship with his neighbors,including William D. Perry, would
eventually turn hostile, but heremained close to the longtime
residents who frequently saw himaround the park or sitting on bench
on or sitting on porches chatting.
His strongest emotional connectionsremained with his family.
He loved taking his niece to the park orto McDonald's, and frequently spoke to

(15:22):
friends and neighbors about his family,reinforcing how important these bonds
were to him, and then despite lifelongbattles with his health issues and
social, social isolation, and the traumaof multiple family losses, Brent was
remembered as hardworking, friendly, anddeeply, and a deeply gentleman dedicated

(15:45):
to his family and to his personal growth.
So Brett's journey to home ownershipbegan as a deeply personal quest
for independence and stability.
After years spent living with hismother, his decision to purchase a
trailer in the Evergreen Mobile HomePark reflected his desire for both

(16:05):
autonomy and a sense of community.
An environment where he couldhave his own space, but still
remain close to his loved ones.
And, you know, his mom was able tocome over and check on him and stuff
like that because she wasn't far away.
After researching available options, Brettsettled on a modest trailer, situated on
lot number 81 along Balsam Street in thesmall appreciated park nestled beneath the

(16:32):
huge canopies of pine, cedar and hemlock.
He was drawn to evergreen, not just bythe affordability, but by the possibility
of carving out a new chapter in afamiliar area close to his family and
the places that he had always known.
Neighbors recalled, neighbors recalledBrit taking great pride in the purchase.

(16:53):
He spoke fondly of having finelysecured a home to call his very own.
After years of shared living spacesand transient arrangements, the move
in itself was a gradual process.
Brett spent days hauling personalbelongings, furniture, and boxes
from his mother's home, sometimesrelying on her and other family

(17:18):
members for transportation.
He made repeated trips carefullyarranging everything and always setting
aside special sentimental items likefamily photos and his band percussion
accessories, and his vast collectionof computer equipment, which he
considered his lifeline and his hobby.

(17:39):
So from the moment Brett steppedinside, he dedicated himself to
transitioning the trailer into acomfortable and welcoming environment.
The initial state of thehome was far from perfect.
It was outdated with faded linoleumfloors and peeling wallpaper.
I think, I don't know if I couldsay, I think everybody, but I
have damn sure been in like thisage of a trailer home, you know?

(18:03):
Um, and they always need some updating,but this did not deter b Brett.
Instead, he threw himself into therenovations work tirelessly day and night.
The hum of power tools often echoed lateinto the evening as he installed new
shelving, repainted the rooms and cheerfultones and meticulously laid new flooring.

(18:27):
Brett invested in smallupgrades as his budget allowed.
Often shopping for deals at nearbyhardware stores and keeping detailed
notes about what still needed to be fixed,welcoming and eager to share his progress.
Brett soon became a familiarpresence in the neighborhood.
He introduced himself around to allthe neighbors, regularly chatting on

(18:51):
porches and inviting others to come inand see the improvements he was making.
Many recalled that family, especiallyhis young niece, were frequent visitors.
Brett delighted in hosting briefplay dates, showing off his garden
and sharing simple mills in thenewly Brighton trailer living room.
I mean, he was proud.

(19:11):
He was proud of this househe was building, you know.
I dunno

Angela (19:16):
why.

John (19:16):
Yeah.
And so even as he settled into hisnew home, he was mindful of the
challenges that he faced, his financialconstraints, ongoing health issues, and
the loneliness of living on his own.
Nevertheless, he saw the trailer as apersonal sanctuary, a place to heal, to

(19:37):
reflect and nurture a sense of stability.
After years of uncertainty overmonths, Brett's trailer would come
to reflect his personality, creative,hopeful, and and focused on building a
better life in the face of adversity.
His pride in home ownership wasmatched only by his determination

(19:57):
to maintain his independence andthe warmth that he offered to those,
to those who were close to him.
William Douglas Perrywas born in Warren, Ohio.
On July 14th, 1967 to parentsClayton and Julie Perry.
Growing up, William just sprayedan early penchant for standing out

(20:18):
sporting a mustache as early as hissophomore year at Canton McKinley High
School, where he also played football.
However, his high school experiencewas marked by instability as he
did not appear with his graduatingclass in the 1986 yearbook hinting
at academic or personal turmoil.

(20:41):
Shortly after, what would'vebeen his graduation?
Perry married Laura SBI inFebruary of 1987 in Niagara Falls.
The marriage was brief and it did notproduce any children and dissolved.
Two years later, following thedivorce, Perry retained little,
his property included only a 1984Chevy Chevette and two Rottweiler

(21:05):
dogs around this turbulent period.
Perry was arrested for carrying aconcealed weapon, marking the start
of a lifelong pattern of criminalactivity and legal problems.
Professionally, Perry's life was sporadic.
He had military service where heserved as a marine and a military

(21:25):
police officer during operations,desert Shield and Desert Storm
earning distinction for his actionsduring a riot among prisoners of war.
After his honorable discharge in1991, his life began to unravel.
Due to mounting mental healthchallenges, Perry was diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolardisorder conditions that would become

(21:50):
defining features in his adult life.
He worked for periods as a hairdresser,attending cosmetology school.
But struggled to to maintainany long-term stability.
Yeah.
And it gets a little weird.

Angela (22:05):
It's a little weird.

John (22:06):
We'll get there.

Angela (22:06):
Only a little

John (22:08):
with the hairdresser thing.
A bit weird.
Yes.
So substance abuse.
Further complicated.
Perry Path, he used alcohol,marijuana, and cocaine.
His difficulties culminated in a 1997prison sentence in Florida for shooting
into a bar, establishing a cleartrajectory of violence and instability.

(22:31):
Returning to Ohio, Perry's liferemained erratic marked by ongoing
run-ins with law enforcement.
By the time that he moved into theEvergreen Mobile home park in North
Canton, Perry had developed a reputationamong neighbors as angry and volatile.
His relationships were often short-lived,tumultuous, and he had ongoing

(22:53):
conflicts with residents despite theperiodic presence of romantic partners,
including a girlfriend that he brokeup with on the night of the crime.
Perry largely lived aloneat the trailer park.
He and Brett Smith's trailers weresituated end to end, setting the stage for
repeated disputes and growing animositythat would ultimately prove fatal.

(23:18):
So when Brett Smith first movedinto Evergreen Mobile Home Park, his
relationship with William D. Perry was,by most accounts typical of new neighbors.
They were polite, but distant andmarked by occasional casual interaction.
They'd talk to each other acrossthe fence or whatever, right?
You know, their trailers werepositioned, like I said, end to end.

(23:40):
Brett was on Balsam Street.
Perry was just behind on Cedar Street.
The proximity led them to cross pathsfrequently, often exchanging quick
greetings or small talk, neitherovertly friendly or unfriendly, just
the typical neighbor relationship.
Yeah.
Hey, how's it going?

(24:00):
Walk in your house, you know?
But for a few weeks, these limitedinteractions were uneventful and
blended into the fabric of Park Life.
At the time, both men were settlinginto new routines at Evergreen.
Brett spent his days working tirelesslyto renovate his trailer, often
discussing his progress with his family,especially his niece with neighbors.

(24:24):
He was beginning to know.
And then Perry meanwhile was knownas a heavy drinker, sometimes
spending his days consuming Bud Ice
and Dipping Copenhagen Tobacco.
That one I can get behind Bud Ice.
Not so much.

Angela (24:40):
I don't even remember, bud.

John (24:42):
I don't either.
I think it's in the family of,

Angela (24:44):
remember it being terrible?
Fema?
Oh, oh

John (24:49):
yeah.
Yeah.
I don't, I didn't everdrink any of that shit.
It is all gross.

Angela (24:54):
Zima was all good when you put jolly inches.

John (24:56):
Zima was never good.

Angela (24:59):
Okay.
It was bearable.

John (25:00):
No, it wasn't

Angela (25:02):
right

John (25:02):
anyway, so he'd chew, convince you, no, you'll never convince me.
So he chewed Copenhagen.
Um, but he also would offerto help others with odd jobs
around the park, occasionally.
Brett Perry and a nearby neighbor, aguy by the name of Chris Conley, would
help each other with small repairs.
And their shared efforts lent asense of temporary camaraderie.

(25:25):
However, the differences between Brettand Perry quickly became apparent.
Brett was quiet, he was sensitive, andhe was a bit of a loner, cherishing
his independence and preferringpeaceful, solitary activities
like remodeling and gardening.
Now, Perry, on the other hand,was way more volatile and had a

(25:46):
reputation for losing his temper,especially when he was drinking.
Neighbors observe that Perry could beunpredictable and sometimes aggressive in
conversation, leading others, includingConley, to stay the hell away from him,
especially if he was drinking too much.
So trust that.
But ICE now, but ICE will get you.
But Ice and Copenhagen, that'sa terrible mix, apparently so.

(26:11):
But for the first month or so,their relationship remained on
neutral, if not exactly warm terms.
Brit was friendly with the herbswho were other neighbors and would
often sit on their porch speakingabout his family and his new home.
While occasionally mentioning Perry andConley, Perry was spoken about with a

(26:31):
mixture of curiosity and caution, givinghis imposing demeanor in his habits,
but no major conflicts had erupted yet.
So as summer turned into August, thefriendship started to erode, and as
yet unspecified falling out occurred.
We don't really know whatthe hell happened, but it
completely changed the dynamic.

(26:53):
After that incident, Bre becamevisibly uncomfortable around Perry.
He would avoid any interaction goinginside his trailer if he spotted Perry
outside, and he no longer engaged inthe occasional group conversations
or the project collaborations thathad marked their initial, you know,
friendship or whatever you wanna call it.

(27:16):
Acquaintance?
Yeah.
They kinda were getting alongand then something went to shit.
Uh, who knows what my, my guess is Perrygot shit face drunk and acted like an ass.
And after that Brett waslike, okay, weirdo, I don't
want nothing to do with you.
So by this point, a sense of uneaseand avoidance had replaced any

(27:38):
semblance of neighborly rapportsignaling that trouble was brewing.
Though the most serious confrontations,including the incident with the broken
electric meter we'll be talking about andthe alleged assault were still to come.
So.
As summer wore on as summer wore onat the Evergreen Mobile Home Park, the

(28:00):
precarious truce between Brett Smithand William Perry collapsed entirely
giving way to a series of escalatingconfrontations that terrorized Brett
and deeply unsettled the neighborhood.
So the first major escalationcame when Brett alleged that Perry
had physically assaulted him.
In an incident that marked a clearturning point, Perry reportedly

(28:23):
struck Brett in the face.
This confrontation rattled Brett,who was already anxious and wary of
his neighbor's unpredictable temper.
Although Brett reported the assault toauthorities, no charges were ultimately
filed and attention simmer just belowthe surface, unaddressed and unresolved.

(28:45):
So, following this assault.
Perry's hostility did not abatein a more overt act of aggression.
Perry was accused ofvandalizing Brett's property.
Neighbors recalled Brett's distress whenhe discovered that his electric meter,
which is a pretty critical utilityfor anyone, especially someone like

(29:06):
Brett who relied on air conditioningto help regulate his health problems.
It had been smashed all the shit.
Wow.

Angela (29:14):
You stuff.

John (29:15):
Yeah.
You exactly.
Yep.
Um,

Angela (29:18):
but you don't cut a tech guy's electricity.
You

John (29:21):
No.
So this deliberate destruction ofproperty was a significant escalation,
leaving Brett frightened and promptinghim to call the police, and as a result,
Perry was charged with felony vandalism.
The incident prompted law enforcementto visit the park and investigate the
property temporarily raising hopesthat external intervention would

(29:44):
offer Brett some degree of safety.
The atmosphere between the twocontinued to deteriorate as unfamiliar
visitors began frequenting Brett'strailer, sometimes prompting suspicion
among neighbors, but also addingto the anxiety of living in a space
that felt increasingly unsafe.

(30:05):
Friends and neighbors later reportedthat Brett became even more reclusive,
sometimes appearing visibly shaken andexpressing outright fear for his safety.
He confided in others about Perry'sthreats and his own sense of helplessness.
Rumor's, intentionscirculated through the park.
Perry's drinking escalated, andby some accounts, so did his

(30:28):
paranoia and his belligerence.
Brett's family and friends becamemore worried as he continued to
voice concerns about being targeted,bullied, or harmed by his neighbor.
The cycle of conflict, verbalaltercations, police visits,
property damage and persistent fearcreated an atmosphere of dread.

(30:50):
Dread that would culminate in tragedy.
I mean, it's such a common tale, you know?
And it's, it's the same thing youget with like stalkers and everybody
like, but your only recourse forthe most part is a restraining
order order, which does diddly shit.
Yeah.
And so you either abandon yourproperty and run for the hills or.

(31:10):
You live with it and hope for the best.

Angela (31:13):
Yeah.

John (31:14):
I'm talking more with people that can't fight back.
Oh, that's true.
Because, you know, there's not a lotof stalkers that are coming after me.
I'll just beat the piss outof 'em and call it a day.
But you know, when like stalkersare stalking like a, a smaller
woman or something like that,there's just no recourse.

Angela (31:30):
And sometimes they're stopping for quite a while before you know it.

John (31:34):
Right.
And you know, in a situationlike this, you know, I mean
I have more of an aggressivepersonality than Brett for sure.
Mm-hmm.
If somebody smashed in my electricmeter, I would probably confront them.
It might get physical.
You, I mean, there's a difference, youknow, between somebody that's more than
willing to take it into their own hands ifthe police aren't gonna take care of you.

(31:56):
I definitely will.
And somebody that doesn't.
Feel like they can do that.
Yeah.
And they, and the policeare their only recourse.
And a lot of the timesthere are no recourse at all
because their hands are tied.
They can't do shit until a law is broken.

Angela (32:12):
Bad.
Yeah.
That shit.

John (32:13):
Yeah.
And it's not vandalism.
Yeah.
They could charge him with vandalism,but you know, whoopty shit.
It's not until they actually killyou that the police can do anything
and then it's too damn late.
Yeah.
So anyway, each step of escalationreinforced the real and present danger
that Brett felt leaving him and thosearound him caught in the tightening

(32:35):
spiral of intimidation and violencethat would ultimately end his life.
So early in Brett Smith andWilliam Perry's acquaintance,
this is the weird part.
So before all the shitwent down and before.
They hated each other.
There was a particular episode thatquickly became local lore among the

(32:58):
Evergreen Mobile Home Park residencePerry, who had attended cosmetology
school and had some past experienceas a hairdresser, invited Brett
over to his trailer for a haircut.
At the time, Brett was still new tothe park and was making an effort to
maintain cordial relationships with hismore outgoing, unpredictable neighbor.

(33:21):
So accepting the invitationout of politeness, he would,
he was not comfortable withthis, but he was like, okay.
So he accepted it and hedidn't wanna offend Perry.
So Brett visited Perry's trailer, whichPerry had arranged for the occasion.
The atmosphere by all neighborhoodaccounts was awkward as hell

(33:43):
from the very beginning.
Oh.
Perry treated the moment as an opportunityto showcase his skills, talking adamantly
and fussing with his equipment, whileBrett, who was shy, was uncomfortable
around strangers and was not accustomedto such attention, just kinda sat
quietly and nervously as Perry worked.

(34:05):
For Brett, the haircutwas far from relaxing.
It was far from a neighborly favor.
He later relayed the story to fellowresidents with self-effacing humor.
His discomfort was clear whenhe was telling the story.
The incident stood in sharp contrast tothe mounting tensions that would soon

(34:25):
follow, representing perhaps Perry'sattempt at friendliness that was colored
by his overbearing personality andBrett's reluctant reluctance to bond.
The strange event marked one ofBrett's final efforts to keep
things civil, but it also revealeddecisive cracks in their rapport.

(34:46):
In hindsight, neighbors look back atthe haircut with unease, recognizing
it is both an early warning signof Perry's weird ass behavior.
And the moment that pushed Brett yetfurther into his social withdrawal
and caution around his neighbor,the uneasy piece would soon give
way as Perry's behavior grew morevolatile and ultimately dangerous.

(35:11):
And I just gotta say it's weird.
It's freaking weird.
Like if a male neighbor came to meand was like, I really want you to
come over so I can cut your hair.
I would not, as I, I wouldassume they were hitting on me.
Yeah.
I would assume it was a sexual advance.

Angela (35:28):
Sounds like,

John (35:29):
because it's just not something, I mean, it's one thing if your
buddy's a barber, like my son has areally good friend who's a barber,
and so, you know, when that kidcomes up, he brings his haircut and
stuff and he'll cut my son's hair.
Or if my son goes down there tovisit or whatever, or cut his hair,
that's a totally different thing.
They, they've been friends since, Imean, they went to elementary school

(35:51):
together when they were little kids,
big
and then a total stranger who's like,come over and let me cut your hair.
I mean, I'd feel the same way.
If it was a female, if a female invitedme over to her house to cut my hair,
I would assume she was hitting on me.
I mean, it's just, uh, it's just weird.

(36:13):
So that's, that's all I have to say.
It's weird.
John's creep out.
Well, it's, it's kind of creepy,especially considering what's coming.
So during the critical period atEvergreen Mobile Home Park, William
Perry was involved in a turbulent,romantic relationship with Susan Lockard.
Lockard was often seen coming and goingfrom Perry's trailer, and her presence

(36:38):
was familiar to neighbors who noted theunstable nature of their connection.
Their relationship was marked by frequentarguments and stormy reconciliations, a
cycle that became particularly pronouncedin the days just before Brett's murder.
So on the evening of October 3rd, 2008,locker arrived at Perry's trailer to pick

(37:01):
up laundry accompanied by her daughterand a friend who was waiting in their car.
So Perry emerged from his trailer, visiblyenraged, and in a show of aggression,
appeared armed as he confronted the car.
So, despite this freakingweird ass episode.

(37:21):
Lockered and this woman's crazyfor, I mean, I'm not blaming her,
but she's nuts because she choseto stay with this armed lunatic.
And, um, so she stayed with him andthe her companions or her daughter
and whoever was in the car, they left.
But then later that night, Perrydrove Lockered home and during the

(37:45):
drive he broke up with her, said theirrelationship was over, dropped her off
late in the evening with a finalitythat punctuated the instability
that they had been experiencing.
The next morning, Perry picked uplocker early to take her to work,
even despite the breakup, right?
Underscoring how entangledand intense, and freaking just

(38:09):
unhealthy this relationship was.
So friends and neighbors observe thetension between Perry and Lockard,
noting that arguments seemed to occurmore frequently and with greater
intensity as the days went by.
Lockered sometimes defended Perry inpublic against rumors about his violent
tendencies, insisting that his behaviorwas misunderstood or exaggerated.

(38:34):
However, the ongoing instabilityand emotional volatility of
their relationship were apparentto those in the trailer park.
For sure.
Yeah.
And many believed that theturbulence in Perry's personal life
contributed significantly to hisescalating paranoia and erratic
behavior leading up to the crying.

(38:55):
So on October the third, 2008, Brett Smithbegan his morning quietly at his trailer.
He spent time working on the renovationsin his home, something that had become
a daily ritual and a source of pride.
Like I said, at some point during theday, Brett made a withdrawal from the
bank to collect his monthly disabilitypayment, a routine that he managed

(39:18):
carefully to ensure that his bills werepaid on time and his basic needs were met.
And then throughout theafternoon, Bri called his mother
to arrange a visit for supper.
He was eager to see his niece, ahighlight that he looked forward
to every week, and he plannedon coming to his mother's house.
Once she returned home from work, theHansons who were neighbors living at

(39:41):
65 Spruce North Spruce Northwest in themobile home community were undergoing,
remodeling, and briefly interactedwith Perry, who tried to requisition an
old sink for his own trailer repairs.
But it was rebuffed.
So this, this, um, thiscase is, is showcased on.

(40:04):
Fear thy neighbor.

Angela (40:06):
Oh, I

John (40:06):
don't know if you've watched it or not.
I have, but

Angela (40:08):
this one doesn't sound familiar.

John (40:10):
Interestingly, a lot of the shit they get wrong in this show.

Angela (40:14):
Okay.

John (40:15):
Um, and this was one of the big things because in the, in that
show, they show, um, Perry tryingto get a, a sink or a door or a
toilet or something from Brett.
And Brett wouldn't let him haveit, and that's why he blew up.
But that was not the case.
It did happen, but he tried to getit from another neighbor, a sink from

(40:36):
another neighbor, and they told him no.
And so he got pissed.
So, um, so meanwhile, WilliamPerry's day was unsettled.
His relationship with Susan Lockardwas fraught with tension and Lockard
stopped by his trailer in the eveningto pick up her laundry, accompanied
by her daughter and Chad Long.
And this is what we talkedabout just a minute ago.

(40:58):
And Perry was pissed offand armed with a gun.
He confronted them outside thetrailer, but locker, for whatever
reason, chose to stay with him.
And then he drove her home andbroke up with her, dropped her
off about 10 30 that night.
So throughout the day, themood in the park was tense.
Brett retreated into the safety ofhis routine and family connections

(41:21):
while Perry bounced from confrontationwith neighbors to arguments and
emotional turmoil with lockered.
These overlapping interactions,routines, and disputes would
form the backdrop for the tragedythat occurred later that night.
But until the evening, everyday lifecontinued marked by uneasy glances, tense

(41:41):
exchanges, and a prevailing sense thatthe piece of the park was wearing thin.
So just a, a quick timeline of the dayI. Approximately, uh, between nine and
10 o'clock in the morning, Brett withdrew$1,182 in cash from the Late Community
Federal Credit Union in Hartville, andthat was his monthly disability check.

(42:06):
By late morning or aroundlunchtime, he met with his mother,
Judy for lunch at Westfield MallFood Court in Jackson Township.
And then after lunch, they went togetherto Walmart, also in Jackson Township.
And at two 30, Brett and his motherleft Walmart in separate cars.
Brett mentioned that he would visit hismother's house that evening for supper.

(42:27):
At four 15 that afternoon, Brettcalled his mother to check what time
she would be home so that he couldcome for supper and to see his niece.
At five 15, William Perry approached thetrailer of Barb and James Hansen at 65
Spruce Northwest, asking if he could takea kitchen sink that was left outside.

(42:48):
During their remodeling, they toldhim no and he become very irritated.
And then by late afternoon, sometimeafter five 15, the Hansen's observed
Perry standing inside Brett Smith'strailer, and they overheard a
very heated argument taking place.
So by early evening, Brett nevershowed up at his mother's home as

(43:10):
they'd planned and calls from his momto his phone, went to his voicemail.
And then in the evening, between10 and 10 30 is when William Perry
drove Susan Lockard home, brokeup with her and dropped her off.
And then in the late evening after the.
10 30, 11 o'clock, Perry went to thehome of Dustin Lockard, who was Susan's

(43:32):
son, and gave him a pack of MarlboroLight cigarettes, saying quote, keep
them because nothing matters anymore.
Anyway, end quote.
Yeah.
Weird.

Angela (43:43):
He knew he was going somewhere.

John (43:45):
Yeah.
So then the next morning, October thefourth, 2008, his poor mother, Judy
Smith, became worried when Brett failed toshow up for dinner and didn't answer her
calls, fearing that something was wrong.
Judy drove to his trailer and recruitedhis neighbor, Chris Conley, to help

(44:05):
when Brett didn't answer the door.
So Conley at Judy's request, forced thedoor open with a crowbar, and the first
thing he noticed inside was a stickysubstance on the floor, reminiscent of
spattered paint and or possibly blood.
Right.
The oven in the small kitchen wason and its door was open with quote,

(44:29):
burnt stuff visible on the rack.
And at this point, Conley useda flashlight to look around.
The two moved through Brett's trailer.
Keep in mind that his mom is with him.
Oh, it's with
Conley.
So Conley and Judy moved throughBrett's trailer following the paint
stained hallway to the bed, to thebathroom, and there on the bathroom

(44:54):
floor, they made the grizzly discovery.
Brett's headless body lay on thefloor, wrapped in plastic and partially
covered in blue and white paint.
A knife was sticking out of his chest.
Both hands had been mutilated, allfingers, and both thumbs were severed.
With one finger and one thumbfound on the floor near the

(45:18):
base of the bathroom toilet.
So obviously freaking panicked.
This poor woman called 9 1 1.
Yeah, and when officers arrived,the scene grew even more
macab, investigating further
as morning.
Yeah, as if we didn't needto give one a a while ago.

(45:39):
But investigating further, police foundBrett's head inside the still warm oven.
Partially wrapped inburnt newspaper and cloth.
They noted that a strong odor ofa bleach like substance filled the
trailer and attempts had been madeto pour or throw paint over evidence

(46:02):
throughout the interior of the trailer.
So further research revealed Brett'swallet was on the couch, but it was
emptied of cash and a silver bracelet.
A detail that would later becomeimportant to the investigation
was found on the trailer floor.
Outside the trailer, police wouldeventually find more evidence
linking William Perry to the crime.

(46:24):
The shock and the horror of the siteleft a permanent mark on all involved.
I can't even freaking imagine.
Yeah.
Um, Judy's calm, but pained nine oneone call and it's, it's incredibly.
Impressive that this woman wasable to maintain her composure.

(46:47):
You can listen to the 9 1 1 call.
It's available to listen to.
She's incredibly composedfor having just found her.
Are

Angela (46:56):
you composed or is she just that type of woman?

John (46:58):
She's just that type of woman, you know, I mean, and I'm not, by the way,
I don't know that I would be in thissituation finding your son headless.
I mean, finding a murdered is onething, but murdered and mutilated.
And decapitated,

Angela (47:16):
there was no understanding me for months.

John (47:18):
Yeah, but she was very composed and I mean, she's
buried one child already, right?
She's buried her husband.
Now she just found her other son.
Oh, funny.
I mean, yeah.
So, but anyway, that nineone one call is out there.
So, um, talking about the conditionof the body, and I'm just gonna do

(47:41):
it because I've already describedbad shit, so I don't know we that

Angela (47:46):
trigger

John (47:48):
Brett.
So, Brett's body, like we said, wasdiscovered on the bathroom floor.
It was wrapped in plastic andsplattered with blue and white paint.
He had been decapitated,his head was in the oven.
A knife had been leftprotruding from his chest.
His hands were all cut to shit, includinghis fingers and thumbs cut off the body

(48:11):
in the bathroom, showed signs of attemptsto clean it up with a strong order, odor
of bleach all throughout the trailer.
And then, like I said,his head was in the oven.
The oven in the kitchen wason, the door was open, and then
there was sticky substances likeblood and blue and white paint.

(48:33):
They're smeared all over the hallway,the walls, the bathroom floor.
I mean it's just, just brutal.
I mean, it's justunbelievably, yeah, insane.
So crime scene investigators werecalled, and then medical examiners
documented it and then arranged forthe removal of Brett's body evidence.

(48:55):
Technicians photograph the sceneand catalog items for forensic
analysis officers, canvas neighbors,and other residents for leads
and per witness statements.
And William Perry was quicklyidentified as a person of interest
and then a warrant was issued forhis arrest by the following day.
So.

(49:16):
Some of the evidence that wascollected were blood samples and
swabs that were taken from thebathroom and from the hallway.
For DNA analysis samples ofthe blue and white paint were
collected for chemical comparisons.
The knife from Brett's chest was preservedfor f for fingerprint and trace evidence.
The severed digits and all the bodyparts were cataloged for autopsy.

(49:39):
And then for forensic evaluation,they took swabs of the bleach, the
paint, and the cleaning materialsthat were documented, uh, to show
an effort to destroy evidence.
The plastic sheeting, the cloth fragmentsand the burn newspaper were recovered for
fiber and DNA analysis and investigatorslifted fingerprints and possible shoe

(50:02):
prints from various surfaces in the house.
Then samples from Britt'sfingernails and clothing were taken
to identify possible foreign DNA.
So during the initial phases of theinvestigation, before any arrests
were made, police and crime scenespecialists worked intensively to
unravel the circumstances of his murder.

(50:24):
Upon arrival, detectives and patrolofficers secured the entire trailer
park, the whole damn thing, establishinga perimeter to keep residents and
onlookers away from the crime scene.
Only investigators, forensictechnicians, and the coroner's team
were allowed inside the trailer.
Obviously, police meticulouslyprocessed the home, beginning with a

(50:46):
photographic record of every room andevery piece of disturbed evidence.
I know these poor copstoo, man, adapted hate.
I mean, you, you know, you get called,you see some shit nobody should ever have
to see, and this is one of those calls.
So as they, you know, as theycanvassed the, the neighborhood, all

(51:06):
the neighbors were like, you needto talk to freaking William Perry.
He is, he's kind of a loose cannon.
They're, they've been disagreementsbetween these two and blah, blah, blah.
And so, you know, he was ontheir radar pretty early.
And, you know, then they also reviewedthe, the parks visitor log they

(51:26):
called nearby businesses for to seeif they had surveillance recordings.
And they checked if anyoutside cameras caught Perry
entering or leaving the scene.
And at the same time, Brett'sfinancial activity, such as
the recent cash withdrawal werechecked for any irregularities
or for possible connections.
And throughout these efforts, policekept Brett's family updated, working with

(51:50):
victim support resources while awaitingforensic analysis and autopsy results.
And.
I, I mean, they did a very good jobin that, in that area as well as I
could tell, communicating as much asthey could with his poor mom while
maintaining everything they needed forprosecution of this freaking psychopath.

(52:12):
So now we gotta talk about the autopsy.
I should have just given a tru triggerwarning at the beginning of this episode,
'cause the whole damn thing's bad

Angela (52:20):
all October episodes.

John (52:21):
Yes.
So.
The autopsy was performed within hoursof his body's discovery and began with
a painstaking external and internalexamination designed to clarify the
cause and manner of death as wellas to gather any forensic evidence.
So externally, the medical examinerdocumented signs of violent trauma.

(52:44):
Obviously, the most immediatelyapparent injury was the decapitation.
Brett's head had been severed fromthe body with a sharp instrument, the
cutting edge, leaving rugged tissueand nicked vertebrae at his neck.
Careful examination revealedhesitation wounds suggesting

(53:04):
interrupted or repeated attemptsbefore he completely severed the head.
His body and wounds were heavilycontaminated with blue and white latex
house paint, obscuring some injuriesand complicating the examination.
The torso bore further evidence ofviolence embedded directly into his

(53:25):
chest was a kitchen knife plunged betweenthe ribs and penetrating the left lung.
There were multiple sharp forceinjuries on the chest, shoulders,
and arms, defensive wounds consistentwith an attempt to fend off an attack.
Both hands were mutilated after death, allfingers and thumbs had been cut off with

(53:46):
a sharp tool with the stump showing cleanpostmortem edges and minimal bleeding.
So, I don't know, I, I don't know.
I don't know why you cut somebody'sfingers off and then leave 'em.

Angela (53:59):
Yeah.

John (54:00):
You know, like I've heard of people cutting fingers
off in the head off mm-hmm.
And taking it somewhere else to sothat the body can't be identified

Angela (54:07):
as quickly.
Yeah.

John (54:08):
But first of all, it's in his house.
Chances are it's him.
It's not gonna be that hardto freaking identify the guy.
And then two, you leave thehead in the oven and the fingers
scattered all over the floor.
Like what is the pointof any of this thumb?
Still it's, it's, yeah, it is.
It's so freaking in.
So the fingertips and the thumbs recoveredfrom the scene were likewise examined.

(54:33):
No defensive wounds were presenton the digits, supporting the
conclusion that the mutilation wascarried out after Brett's death.
Likely to hamper identificationor some weird ritualistic thing.
Like, I can't come up with shit on this.

Angela (54:51):
Found one finger in the phone or

John (54:54):
No, they found all of them.
They were all there.

Angela (54:56):
Did I hear you say that?
And just glossed over it.

John (55:00):
I think I mentioned that they found like two of 'em near
the baseboard in the bathroom.

Angela (55:05):
Yeah.
Okay.

John (55:05):
But they found 'em all.
So then they did toxicology analysis and.
No evidence of any alcohol sedatives or,or narcotics were found in Brett's system.
Um, the head was found,like I said, in the oven.
It was severely burned on oneside and partially wrapped in

(55:26):
scorched cloth and newspaper.
The examiner documented thermal injuriesto the facial and the scalp tissues.

Angela (55:34):
I didn't understand that.
Was he trying to get his catch fire?
Maybe.

John (55:37):
I don't have a clue what in the hell lunatic was doing.
I mean, I can't come up with shit on this.
I seriously can't.

Angela (55:45):
It's more so asking for your opinion.
Not based on as,

John (55:49):
but I mean experience.
I can't even come up with a good opinion.
I think he was an absolute lunatic.
That's all I can come up withbecause nothing else makes sense.
Right.
It would make sense that you mightburn ahead to obscure the identity to.
But,

Angela (56:06):
but I mean, newspaper and the oven, that, that, hoping it
catches fire is what I'm assuming.

John (56:13):
Maybe,

Angela (56:14):
right?

John (56:14):
Why not crank it up to broil and close the door?
I, why leave the door open?
It's just bizarre.
I, I don't think you couldlogically come up with it.
It's like you've said amillion times the same.
Cannot understand the insane and thisson of a bitch is out of his mind.
True period.
Very.
So the jaw and the dental structureswere intact, allowing for positive

(56:38):
identification, but the scalp showedadditional sharp force injuries that
likely cause pain and disfigurement.
But were not fatal.
And they occurred obviouslybefore the decapitation.
The internal examination confirmedthe fatal injuries, massive hemorrhage
from decapitation and the punctureto the lung would've led to a rapid

(57:01):
loss of consciousness and death.
He was likely a alive when theystarted to cut his head off,

Angela (57:09):
but hopefully passed out.

John (57:11):
Hopefully.
Um, the tracheal and spinal cordsection showed blunt force trauma
around the neck, consistent with astruggle or restraint just before
the fatal wounds were inflicted.
There was no evidence of sexual assaultor preexisting disease that were found.
The paint cleaning, mi cleaning chemicalsand bleach residues were present

(57:33):
on the skin hair and in some of thewounds indicating, I guess, attempts
to obscure evidence or destroy forensicmarkers, or just a lunatic on loose.
I don't know.

Angela (57:45):
All the above.

John (57:46):
And then finally, the combined cause of death was determined as homicidal
violence due to multiple sharp forceinjuries, decapitation and chest stabbing
with extensive postmortem mutilation.
The medical examiner's office reportmeticulously catalog all the wounds
and evidence establishing a clearand grizzly sequence of events,

(58:11):
and provided investigators with thevital forensic details to corroborate
what they found at the crime scene.
Then, then would later supportthe criminal prosecution.
So.
Perry became the primesuspect almost immediately.
Right.
You know, the, he hada history of conflict.
The neighbors in the residence there allsaid, this guy is a loose freaking cannon.

(58:35):
They've had a disagreementwith each other.
They'd been fighting, you know, andcops certainly had a record of the calls
that Brett had made, the vandalizedelectric meter, the assault, all the
shit that had happened between them.
So it was pretty easy tostart looking his direction.
And then on the day before and theday of the murder, Perry's conduct

(58:59):
was erratic and confrontational.
We talked about it.
He was observed in allkinds of heated exchanges.
He seemed visibly upset after thisdispute with his girlfriend, and then
he had the fight with the freakingneighbors that wouldn't give him the sink.
So.
He's, he's a loose cans, like I said.
And then Perry's trailer was searchedsoon after Brett's body was found,

(59:22):
and investigators noticed signs thathe had hurriedly packed some of his
belongings and took off items likecleaning chemicals, a crowbar, and
clothing with possible blood orpaint or paint stains were missing.
They, I mean, they didn't find this shit.
Forensic teams matched the shoe printsin Brett's trailer to a pair of commonly

(59:44):
born shoes that Perry had, and severalwitnesses stated that they saw Perry
entering and or leaving Brett's traileraround the estimated time of the homicide.
And then Perry's ex-girlfriendand others explained that his
mood had drastically deterioratedin the hours before the murder.
He had made ominous statements,including handing over personal

(01:00:07):
items and remarking that.
Like I said, none of this matters anymore.
Why a pack of cigarettes?
I'm, I don't freaking know.
I mean, back in the early twothousands, I think that was before
they all shut to this, throughthe, through the roof on price.
I think a pack of cigarettes back then waslike three bucks or something like that.

(01:00:28):
So they're like 11 or $12.
A pack.
A pack, yeah.

Angela (01:00:33):
What the hell?

John (01:00:34):
Yeah.
It's insane.
I know how people smoke.
Dang.
So, and then the final clenchingfactor was his sudden and
unexpected disappearance in flight.
When police arrived at his trailer afterthe discovery of the body, he was gone.
He flew the coop.
That's a pretty good indication thathe has some consciousness of guilt.

(01:00:57):
So, um, obviously they started a manhuntlooking for this freaking psychopath.
Uniformed officers scoured theneighborhood on foot and by car
questioning all the residents in thepark talking to local businesses.
Just everybody around there seen ifanybody had seen this learning tick.
And then they put out mediaalerts and published his photo,

(01:01:19):
his name, his vehicle, descripdescription, um, asking for, you
know, tips to find this psychopath.
And then temps prompted officers tocheck gas stations, bus stations,
and airports for activity matching.
Perry's description, surveillancevideos from nearby businesses
were reviewed for leads.

(01:01:40):
Some witnesses recalled seeing Perryleaving the area in a hurry while
others reported conversations withhim that hinted that he might try to
leave town or maybe even kill himself.
So as hours passed without hisapprehension, the search expanded
and state law enforcement as wellas federal agencies were notified in
case he tried to cross state lines.

(01:02:02):
And throughout this period, the localcommunity was obviously freaking on edge.
Um, I would be freaked out.
I'd probably get a motel and movethe hell out of my trailer for a
little bit, especially if I'd hadan argument with this psychopath.
So his arrest was the dramatic culminationof the extensive multi-day man hunt

(01:02:23):
that spanned the local neighborhoodssurrounding counties statewide.
Searching investigators quicklytraced Perry's movements through tips
from neighbors through surveillancefootage, all of their investigation.
And it became clear that he fled thetrailer park on the night of the murder
And witnesses saw him driving erraticallyaway in his car, and some reported that

(01:02:45):
he appeared agitated, maybe intoxicated.
And so law enforcement disseminatedhis photograph all over the place.
And the breakthrough.
The breakthrough came when Perry wasspotted at a relative's house in a
nearby county, late in the afternoon,about three days after the murder.
He had arrived suddenly appearingdisheveled, exhausted, and showing

(01:03:08):
signs of psychological distress.
The relative aware of the seriousness ofthe, of the case due to the widespread
coverage and the police warningsquietly contacted the authorities.
Kudos on you relative, you know, like,uh, my goodness, I don't want this
son of a bitch sleeping in my house.

(01:03:28):
So uniformed officers.
And detectives converged onthe property with caution, and
they established a perimeter.
They contacted Perry through therelative requesting that he exit the
home peacefully, and he, he compliedwith their initial negotiations,
emerged from the house with visibleanxiety, but without any resistance,

(01:03:51):
and he was immediately apprehendedand searched for weapons and all that
good stuff that happens upon arrest.
So once he was arrested, his clothing,shoes, and personal items were begged
and preserved for forensic analysis.
Officers noted traces of blue and whitepaint on his clothes and on his hands.
His car, which was parked nearby, wassearched for cleaning chemicals, personal

(01:04:15):
effects, and any incriminating evidence.
And.
At police headquarters, he was placedunder observation in question and
he displayed signs of emotionaldisturbance and fluctuated between
periods of agitation, resignation,and absolute incoherence.
Throughout the initial interrogations,he provided conflicting stories,

(01:04:37):
sometimes referencing the events atEvergreen Mobile Home Park, and making
ambiguous statements about whether hewas guilty or whether he was innocent.
So.
You know, the policenotified the community.
They'd arrested the psychopath.
I'm sure everybody breatheda huge sigh of relief.
'cause the freakingpsychopath was in jail.
I'm sure that all the neighborsin the trailer park knew

(01:04:59):
exactly who'd killed Brit.
Mm-hmm.
I think the police pretty quicklyknew exactly who killed him.
So once the son of a bitch wasarrested, it had to be a huge sigh of
relief because it's not like, is hereally the guy or he's the guy he is.
He's the freaking guy.
He is the creepy haircutter dude.
So, yeah, that's him.
So then his trial became a focal pointof public atten of the public's attention

(01:05:25):
in North Canton and all over the place.
So before the trial, both the prosecutionand the defense engaged in the,
in extensive pretrial maneuvering.
They always do.
The defense attempted to argue that.
Perry was mentally unstable.
He was se they were seeking a psychiatricevaluation to establish a diminished

(01:05:47):
capacity or an insanity defense.
The prosecution countered withevidence of Perry's calculated
actions before and after the murder.
Um, and you know, just for reference,if you run from the scene of
the crime, you're gonna have areally hard time arguing insanity.
Yeah.
Because that is consciousnessof guilt that Yeah.

(01:06:09):
Shows that you knew it was wrong.
You did it anyway, so, yeah.
So

Angela (01:06:14):
sit at your house, playing house like normal.

John (01:06:17):
Yeah.
And you and the cops, a little bit ofthe cops come and you're covered head
to toe in blood and you're like, Heyguys, you wanna come play him again?

Angela (01:06:23):
Yeah.
Do you need haircut?

John (01:06:25):
Yeah.
Need a haircut.
Exactly.
So jury, jury selection was a painstakingprocess due to the cases notoriety.
Prospective jurors were questionedindividually about their opinions on
violent crime, media exposure, mentalhealth defenses, all of the things.
But eventually a jury was chosenthat was capable of examining and.

(01:06:50):
Of examining the disturbingevidence impartially.
And I gotta say, man, hats off to thesejurors, dude have to view this shit.
I mean, nobody wants to see this.
Nobody wants to see any part of this.
No sane person.
Anyway.
So at trial, the prosecutionmeticulously reconstructed the
events that led up to the murder.

(01:07:10):
Uh, they presented witness testimonythat detailed the hostile relationship,
the prior violence between Perry andBrett, the escalating threats and the
physical altercations in the weeks beforethe murder and the sightings of Perry
entering and leaving Brett's traileraround the estimated time of death.
And then they called in the forensic eexperts who talked about the blood, the

(01:07:33):
blue and the white paint, the chemicaltraces that were found on Perry's clothing
and on his other personal effects.
They talked about the matchingshoe prints at the crime scene that
corresponded to Perry's footwear.
And they talked about the DNA evidencethat links Perry to the murder weapon.
To the plastic wrappings and to multipleitems that were found in Brett's trailer.

(01:07:55):
And then medical examiners testified ingraphic detail about the autopsy, all
the shit that we already talked about.
I ain't gonna go through it again.
It's just, it's just macabre and nasty.
And, uh, yeah.
So the part, the prosecution unveiledPerry's own statements, which were
obtained after arrest, in which healternately admitted involvement and then

(01:08:16):
claimed not to remember critical details.
They called witnesses, includingneighbors and Brett's family who
painted Perry as a volatile controllingpsychopath, an absolute lunatic.
The defense's, primary argumentcentered around his mental
health history, specifically hisdiagnosis of bipolar disorder and.

(01:08:39):
Post-traumatic stress disorder andthat he got supposedly from his prior
military service, his troubled life.
The defense conceded Perry's presence atthe scene and interaction with Brett, but
attempted to cast doubt on his intent,suggesting he sudden breakdown triggered
by some kind of psychological distressrather than coldly executing the murder.

(01:09:04):
The trial was marked by emotionaloutburst, especially during testimony from
Brett's mother who described discoveringher son's body in graphic detail.
Family members of both Brett andPerry attended every session,
sometimes requiring special securityarrangements and counseling support.

(01:09:24):
No shit.
Yeah.
The courtroom was often filled beyondcapacity, and local media reported
almost daily on the dramatic moments,keeping the public awareness and
tension high throughout the proceedings.
Both sides deliveredpassionate closing arguments.
The prosecution reiterated Perry'smethodical violence, the overwhelming

(01:09:46):
forensic evidence and the pain inflictednot just on Brett, but also on his
mother and on the community in general.
The defense pleaded for leniency.
They need therapy too.
Shit.
Yeah, they need therapy.
I mean, the, the one guy thatdoesn't get anything is is the
neighbor Conley that broke into thetrailer and went in with his mom.

(01:10:10):
He saw shit nobody wants to see too, man

Angela (01:10:13):
something.

John (01:10:14):
I mean, he is probably still having nightmares about this shit.
So.
The defense pleaded for leniency,warning against judging Perry
solely by his worst moment.
Well, when you murder somebody,that's what we judge you on.

Angela (01:10:28):
Exactly.

John (01:10:28):
Period.

Angela (01:10:30):
Yeah.
Oh, but yeah.
Mm-hmm.

John (01:10:32):
And then obviously they talked about his mental health struggles and
I mean, there's so many people thatdeal with bipolar disorder that don't
decapitate their freaking neighbors.
Exactly.
I don't even wanna hear this shit, man.
So, yeah.
Do something, but bipolar disorder doesnot lead you to decapitate neighbors,

(01:10:53):
even if you're not taking your meds.
It's not like, I mean, you know,like schizophrenia, if you're
not being treated, it can leadto really, really bad things.
Bipolar disorder typically is notviolent, and if it is, you usually
hurt yourself, especially in you whenyou're in the depressive phases of it.
Right.
You're uh, I mean, I've, I'veknown all kinds of people that

(01:11:16):
struggle with bipolar disorder.
I've never known any of 'em to beviolent because of that outward.
Some of them are vi Yeah.
Some of them are violent people just ingeneral, but it's not caused from that.
You know what I mean?

Angela (01:11:28):
Yeah.

John (01:11:29):
I don't know.
And then, yeah, I don't know.
So anyway, jury deliberation.
Jury deliberations lasted two days.
The community waited, obviouslyanxiously as the panel examined
the mountain of evidence.
Oh yeah.
Ultimately, the jury found this pieceof shit guilty of aggravated murder
with special circumstances related to.

(01:11:53):
The decapitation will be frank.
I mean, it was related to thebrutality and the premeditation of
the act, but it was the decapitation.
So during the sentencing phase, thecourt heard additional testimony
from the Smith family about theimpact that the crime had on him.
Perry's defense reiterated hispsychological state and expressed

(01:12:13):
remorse after ants after asking for asentence less than the death penalty.
So at this point, the guy is guilty.
Now they're just trying to keep him outof the chair or whatever they use in Ohio.
The judge following the state guidelinesin weighing the crime severity and the
community's need for justice sentencedto sentenced Perry to life in prison

(01:12:37):
without parole, the sentence reflectedboth the overwhelming evidence and the
public's absolute revulsion at the crime.
So obviously the trialconcluded, um, you know, it gave.
It's, it's hard to even say this, but somesense of closure, I guess, for the family.

(01:12:58):
I don't, I don't know if youcan really call it closure.
I don't know what the hell you callit, or, or, so following, following
sentencing, he attempted to file adelayed direct appeal and later purs
pursued post-conviction relief, raisingconcerns about his representation.
I'm sure it wasineffectiveness of counsel.

(01:13:20):
It's always ineffectiveness of counseland the circumstances that led him to he
because, so he, he ended up accepting,um, some kind of a negotiated plea deal
where he ended up pleading guilty totwo counts of aggravated murder, um,
with the death penalty specifications.
And so.

(01:13:40):
He waived his right to any appeals.
And so the appellate courts reviewed hisfilings that found that he was represented
both by death penalty qualified attorneysand he had had been fully briefed on the
nature and the impact of all of this.
And he knowingly entered into anagreement before a judicial panel,

(01:14:00):
so the courts upheld the convictionand denied Perry's request ruling.
There was no evidence of impropercoercion or any constitutional errors.
No further successful appeals.
Nothing.
Nothing has happened.
I mean, you know, it's he, he can, hecan go to hell, he can rot in prison.
He can die there.
He's a psychotic son of a bitch.

(01:14:22):
We definitely don't wanthim out on the street.
Obviously that's had significantimpact on Brett's family.
His poor mother had alreadyendured the unimaginable by burying
her husband, burying one son.
And now.
She has to bury another side.
I mean, I just cannot imagine.

(01:14:43):
And then obviously the way thathe was murdered and everything
had to make it just so much worse.
You know, I, it, it's never, ever,ever easy for, uh, apparent to bury
their child or anything like that.
But to find them in that, first ofall, to be the one that finds him.

Angela (01:15:06):
Yeah.

John (01:15:06):
Second of all, to be the one that finds him decapitated and mutilated.
I mean, it just doesn't get any worse.

Angela (01:15:14):
So I was looking at his eyes.

John (01:15:16):
Oh, it's Perry's.

Angela (01:15:17):
Yeah.

John (01:15:18):
Yeah.
You wanna get a haircut?

Angela (01:15:21):
He doesn't have any that

John (01:15:23):
Oh, no, he doesn't.
I saw him, he had hair when hewas, when he went to court, but

Angela (01:15:28):
yeah, this is,

John (01:15:31):
yeah.

Angela (01:15:31):
Yeah.
But this is, where is he now?
And the only hair scout is a.

John (01:15:38):
Yep.
Well, he's a freaking psychopath.

Angela (01:15:41):
Eyes are,

John (01:15:44):
I

Angela (01:15:44):
dunno why I felt the need to torture myself like that.

John (01:15:48):
Yeah, he's a freaking psycho.
So Brent Williams, Smith's life wasmarked by both struggle and resilience.
He faced epilepsy, bipolardisorder, and the isolation that
often comes with being different.
Yet, through it all, he held tightto the things that gave him joy,
music, gardening, computers, andabove all the family that he loved.

(01:16:13):
His mother, his sister, and hisyoung niece were his anchor.
He wasn't a headline or a case file.
He was a man who wanted what weall want, a sense of stability,
independence, and belonging.
In October, 2008, all of thatwas taken from him in a way so
violent, so grotesque, that evenseasoned investigators struggled to

(01:16:37):
process the scene that they found.
Brett wasn't simply murdered.
He was mutilated, desecrated,and robbed of dignity by the man
who lived just across the fence.
A neighbor, someone whose face wasfamiliar, whose presence was ordinary.
And that is what makesthis story so chilling.

(01:16:59):
Brett wasn't in the wrongplace at the wrong time.
He wasn't wandering the streetslate at night or living a
life that drew danger to him.
He was at home in the place.
That should have beenhis sanctuary and still.
The danger came not from theshadows, but from next door.
For Brett's family, theloss was devastating.

(01:17:22):
His poor mother, Judy, had alreadyendured more than her share of grief
to discover her son in that state.
After years of caring for him,supporting him and watching him
fight for independence was anagony that no parents should ever
know for his sister and his niece.
The absence is permanent felt inevery holiday, every birthday,

(01:17:48):
every empty chair at the table.
For the community of North Canton,the illusion of safety collapsed the
ideal that neighbors could be trusted,that that home was a place of refuge,
was torn apart by a crime that seemedripped from the pages of horror fiction.
But.
It was all too real.

(01:18:09):
And yet Brett must be remembered formore than the brutality of his death.
He should be remembered for the manthat he was gentle, caring, hopeful,
even in the face of hardship.
His life was worth more thanthe violence that ended it.
His name deserves to be spoken not onlyas part of a crime, but as part of a

(01:18:31):
family's love and a community's memory.
This was not a Halloween story.
It was not a film, not a piece of fiction.
It was the real and tragicend of a life that mattered.
Brett William Smith deserved so much more.

(01:18:54):
Brett Smith was born June10th, 1974 in Akron, Ohio.
To Ronald and Judy Smith.
From his earliest years, Brettwas marked by both challenges and
a deep reservoir of resilience.
He lived with epilepsy and bipolardisorder conditions that demanded
constant care, but never stripped awayhis gentleness or his ability to love.

(01:19:19):
Those who knew Brett, remember hiskindness First, he was quiet, soft
spoken, and unfailingly polite.
He wasn't the loudest voice in the room,but he had a warmth that made people
comfortable once they got to know him.
His mother, Judy, described him asgentle a son who despite struggles.

(01:19:41):
Always cared for the people around him.
Music was one of Brett's earliestpassions at Lake High School.
He played percussion in the band,finding expression and pride and rhythm.
He also had a love for computersand technology, often tinkering with
machines and dreaming of ways to buildsomething more out of that interest.

(01:20:03):
Gardening brought him peace and he foundjoy tending to the plants, creating
life where there had once been none.
Fishing and horseback riding werefavorite pastimes, reminders of
his love for the outdoors and thesimple calm that had offered him.
In 1993, Brett graduatedfrom Lake High School.

(01:20:23):
He carried with him both thescars of being bullied for his
differences and the pride of havingendured, of having fought through
difficulties and moved forward anyway.
As an adult, Brett continuedto strive for independence.
He moved into Evergreen Mobile homePark where he worked tirelessly to

(01:20:43):
turn his trailer into a true home.
He painted, repaired and renovated,shaping it into something that reflected
not just shelter, but determination.
His home was his project, hispride, his place of belonging.
Above all, Brett loved his family.

(01:21:04):
His relationship with his mother, Judywas one of closeness and devotion.
She had been his advocate, his supportsystem, and his constant companion.
His sister and his niece werealso central in his world.
He doted on his niece often taking her toMcDonald's or to the park, finding joy in

(01:21:25):
the simplest moments of play and laughter.
Those little outings, ordinary to somewere extraordinary to him and they were
moments his niece would never forget.
But tragedy seemed tofollow the Smith family.
In 1994, Brett's father Ronald died.
In 2002, his brotherRonald Jr. Passed away.

(01:21:48):
And in 2008, Brett himselfwas brutally murdered.
For Judy, who had already enduredthe loss of her husband and one son.
Losing Brett in such a violentand senseless way was an agony
that words cannot contain.
To bury a husband is devastating.
To bury one child is unimaginable.

(01:22:11):
To bury two sons is agrief beyond measure.
Judy bore that weight with a strength.
No parent should be forced to summon.
When asked about Brett, Judy said that shewould always remember her son's laughter,
his kindness, and the way that he nevergave up when life seemed impossibly hard.

(01:22:31):
Quote, he had a good heart.
She said The heart often overlookedby the world, sometimes misunderstood
because of his conditions,was the core of who Bret was.
Neighbors and friends describedBret as quiet but friendly.
Someone who preferred peace to conflict.
He didn't seek out trouble.

(01:22:52):
He simply wanted to live hislife, to build his home, to spend
time with his family, and tocarve out his place in the world.
It is easy in the retelling of a crimefor victims to become overshadowed
by the brutality of their deaths.
But Brett must be remembered for hislife, for the way he loved his mother,

(01:23:15):
for the bond he had with his niece.
For the simple joy of drumming in highschool, of fishing, on a calm day of
planting something and watching it grow.
For the resilience of a man whofaced hardships, many never will, and
still carried kindness at his core.
And Judy must also be rememberednot only as a grieving mother, but

(01:23:38):
as a woman who endured loss uponloss and still stood with courage
to survive the death of a husband.
And then two sons is analmost unimaginable burden.
But Judy carried that grief withdignity, continuing to speak Brett's
name, to share his story, and to makesure that he would never be forgotten.

(01:24:01):
Tonight as we honor Brett's memory,we do so by remembering the man that
he was not the way his life was taken.
He was a son, a brother,an uncle, and a friend.
His life had meaning.
His story deserves to be told, and hismemory deserves to be carried forward.

(01:24:22):
Not as a victim alone, but as a gentlesoul who wanted only peace and family.
Brett William Smith deserved more years,more laughter, more moments of joy, and
Judy deserved far less sorrow together.
Their story is one of loveloss, resilience, and memory.

(01:24:45):
And tonight we keep that memory alive.
So that's where we close the story ofBrett William Smith, a man who lived
with challenges, who still carved outa life of independence, who loved his
family deeply, and who deserved far morethan, than the who that ended his life.

(01:25:09):
Brett should be remembered for hiskindness, his resilience, and his
devotion to those that he loved, notfor the cruelty inflicted upon him

Angela (01:25:18):
and his mother, Judy.
The strengths she carriedafter burying a husband and two
sons is almost beyond belief.
Her story is one of imaginable wunimaginable loss, but also of love that
jurors, even to three night, we honornot just Brett, then Mary is his memory.

John (01:25:35):
So before we close this out, what are your thoughts on
this freaking crazy ass story?
I'm heartbroken.
I mean, it is just tragic,

Angela (01:25:44):
isn't it?
It's, it's disgusting.
Yeah.
There's no, there isno word strong enough.
Disgusting.

John (01:25:51):
I agree a hundred percent.
So
noises
Yeah, that's, that's, yep.
So if you believe in the work thatwe're doing, if you wanna help us
keep these stories alive, there areso many ways that you can join us.
Become part of the Dark DialogueCollective, or take part in the Adoptive
Victim Program where you can chooseto carry forward the legacy of someone

(01:26:13):
who can no longer speak for themselves.

Angela (01:26:15):
And you'll find all of [e-mail].
That's also where you can read ourvictim tributes, explore our case
files, and find ways to be part of this.

John (01:26:26):
You can also email us directly at [e-mail], whether it's
tips, research, or your own reflections.
We read everything and we valueevery message that we receive.

Angela (01:26:38):
Don't forget to subscribe to our substack where we post
extended case notes behind the scenesresearch and updates on episodes.
It's another way to get deeperinto these stories and stay connect

John (01:26:49):
more than anything.
Your support matters, whether it'ssubscribing, leaving a review, or
sharing this episode with someone else.
Each action helps us honor victims likeBrett and keep these dialogues alive.

Angela (01:27:04):
So as we close tonight, remember Brett, remember his
life, not just the way it ended.

John (01:27:10):
Keep searching, keep questioning, keep remembering, keep listening, and
above all, keep the dialogue alive.