Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato announced Tuesday that Todd Smith was sentenced to 59 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Smith was found guilty on Jan. 25 of First Degree Murder, Concealment of a Homicidal Death, Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Domestic Battery after a jury trial in front of Judge Fernando Engelsma. Smith was charged for the 2012 murder of his then wife Katrina Smith in Machesney Park.
In October of 2012, Roscoe Police were called to a report of a missing person. Todd Smith had called to report that his wife, Katrina Smith, had not been seen for more than 24 hours. Detectives were able to locate the victim’s car and purse in the area of Obispo and Ventura Drive in Machesney Park. A search of Todd Smith’s home found trace evidence of human blood on a metal baseball bat and a stair leading from the garage in to the home.
After testing, Illinois State Police found that it was the victim’s blood. Police detectives and the community conducted several massive searches for Katrina, but could not find her. On Nov. 9, 2012, Katrina’s body was found in the Rock River. An autopsy showed she suffered multiple injuries that were caused by blunt force trauma to her head, body and arms.
- Ross Beach is a graduate of WNIJ's Public Radio 101 program