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| Contributed photo This 2005 photo shows Smith and his wife Barbara vacationing in New England. February 6, will mark the fourth anniversary of Darrel Smith’s murder, which remains unsolved. |
By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Four years ago, the weather was typical Aroostook County, windy and snowy — nothing unusual for the first week of February, but what was anything but typical was the Feb. 6, 2008, murder of Darrel Smith at his residence on the Thomas Road in Woodland, four days prior to his 57th birthday.
The winter of 2007-08 brought record snowfall to the area and on Feb. 6, the snow had been falling for most of day. Smith, who ran a sawmill on the Thomas Road property, was discovered by his wife Barbara upon returning home from work — he had been shot in his shop. Due to the snow and wind any obvious clues as to what had taken place earlier that day had vanished. Evidence that has been recovered includes the safe taken from the Smith residence the day of the murder and the murder weapon. One item, which remains yet to be found, is Smith’s wallet.
Police believe that the individual(s) responsible for the death of Darrel Smith were most likely familiar with him and the fact that the sawmill business was predominately cash only.
“It’s on my mind all the time,” said Barbara Smith. “I try not to dwell on it, I try to stay busy — but it’s hard — so hard.”
As police work to solve the Woodland murder, extreme caution is taken, making sure all information and facts are secured, leaving no chance for dispute or doubt.
“I hear from family, friends and strangers all the time and they can’t believe there has been no arrest made in this case,” Smith stated, “Detective Sgt. Cote has stated in previous articles that there is a very firm standard that must be followed in proving this case without reasonable doubt. We only get one shot at this — there is a fine line in the balance of an arrest and closure — we must have a confirmed conviction. If we move prematurely and the case is not successful in court, we don’t get a second chance,” she said. “As much as I want a closure to this nightmare, I have to be patient as I cannot go through this for nothing.”
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of Darrel and the horrific way he died,” said Smith’s sister, Donna Smith Hale.
“Instead of planning our traditional lobster feed for his birthday, I am faced with his unsolved murder. As long as the person (or persons) responsible for this is not caught, we will continue to live with a double tragedy: Darrel’s murder and the case remaining unsolved. If anyone has any new information, please contact the authorities,” Hale added.
“After attending the Maine Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims in Augusta (in September) I came away with renewed hope that Darrel’s case will be solved,” said the victims wife. “I had a wonderful talk with Assistant Attorney General William Stokes, he told me in no uncertain terms not to give up, as with the new advancements in DNA and other forensic tools it will be solved.”
Smith also stated, “Det. Adam Stoutamyer, who has worked on Darrel’s murder from the start, also encourages me to keep the faith as indeed it will be solved. As time drags on it is so hard to keep that faith but because of my love for Darrel I intend to do just that. This meeting gives the survivors of homicide victims a chance to talk with others and although most of the people attending have had an arrest and some closure for their loved ones, they encourage everyone else,” she added.
The $40,000 reward offered by the Smith family and a $15,000 public reward remain in effect in hopes they will encourage anyone with any information pertaining to the Feb. 6, 2008 murder to contact the Caribou Police at 493-3301 or the state police at 800-924-2261 or Crime Stoppers at 800-638-TIPS.
“Both my $40,000 and the public reward are for the arrest and conviction for the person(s) responsible for this murder,” stated Smith.
Contributions to the Public Reward Fund may be sent to Aroostook County Federal Savings and Loan Association at PO Box 808, Caribou, ME. 04736.
