Forrest M. Smythers Jr., 54, really wanted those Christmas lights taken down. Smythers was convicted of murdering his wife Dawn Smythers, in a dispute over the lights during which she allegedly hit him with a Christmas angel and he shot her between the eyes with a .22 caliber rifle.
Smythers was given life in prison plus 8 years after Smythers pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder charge.
He felt that, by January 11th, it was time to take down the lights. He insists that the gun went off accidentally in the struggle after the angel attack. Police found Forrest seated in a rocking chair — still holding the rifle — and his wife was dead on the sofa. The lights never were taken down.
For the full story, click here.
Speaking of not being the brightest bulb in the chandelier or on the Christmas tree …
He had a bad attorney. Pled to First Degree Murder? Come on, this is at least 2nd or at worst manslaughter.
I guess he’ll be getting coal in his stockings for Christmas this year. I don’t know if they have Santa in prison but I am sure that a few of the fairies will be all to happy to take their stick in looking for some tasty puddin….
I need help after saying the above.
Technically Mr. Smythers is correct. Christmas lights and decorations should be taken down after January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.
I wonder if alcohol or crank was a factor in this case?
I wonder if Santa brought him something.
*Take down* the lights, the party’s over, they say that all good thangs must end…
look at me I’m almost cryin’ but that don’t keep her love from dyin’…
What a crazy, crazy, party….
Domestic violence assaults as well as non DV assaults skyrocket during the Christmas/New Year season. I think people are missing the point of all that ‘peace on earth, goodwill to men’ thing:
http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_crime_at_new_year_2006
If he wanted them taken down, why didn’t he just do it himself?
can you please post a link to whatever says he killed her over christmas decorations? The times dispatch article only says that he was arrested for killing his wife of 25 years, nothing about why he did it…