Katrina Smith, 30, Missing Since Monday, October 22, 2012 - Machesney Park, IL

Police issue public plea for help in finding missing Machesney Park woman, benefit Nov. 8

November 7, 2012

Online Staff Report

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department has issued a plea asking for the public’s assistance in locating missing 31-year-old Machesney Park, Ill., resident Katrina A. Smith.

Katrina Smith has been missing since she was last seen by her husband, Todd Smith, 45, at about 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22. She was reportedly leaving the couple’s residence at 8239 Tetterhall Lane in Machesney Park to run an errand. Investigators most recently have searched Rock Cut State Park before the park closes for the season.

Following is the plea issued by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Nov. 7:

Katrina Smith was reported missing on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.

Since that time, an exhaustive search has been conducted for Ms Smith, both by law enforcement and citizen volunteers.

The search has not been successful.

In addition to the physical search for Ms. Smith, hundreds of leads have been followed up on by detectives of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police and the Roscoe Police Department.

The search and investigation continues, and another appeal is being made to the public to assist law enforcement in both areas.

Read more:

http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/11/07/police-issue-public-plea-for-help-in-finding-missing-machesney-park-woman-benefit-nov-8/

Katrina Smith search moves to Rock Cut State Park

Posted: Nov 07, 2012 11:19 AM CST
By Samantha Jeffreys


Katrina Smith

MACHESNEY PARK (WREX) - The search for a missing Machesney Park woman is still underway, two weeks after her disappearance.

Volunteers met at Rock Cut State Park on Wednesday, November 7, to look through Rock Cut State Park, before the park closes for a few days. Rock Cut will close for four days, beginning on Thursday, to allow for hunting season.

Smith was last seen on Monday, October 22, after leaving her home to run errands. She was reported to be wearing black pants and a red shirt. Her car was found the next day. Her purse and cell phone were found later that week.

Katrina Smith is 5'4", 120 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 815-963-7867 or the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department at 815-319-6400.

http://www.wrex.com/story/20031174/katrina-smith-search-moves-to-rock-cut-state-park

Benefit for Katrina Smith Raises Thousands (VIDEO)

Posted: Thu 11:05 PM, Nov 08, 2012
Reporter: Meghan Dwyer

MACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) -- Friends and family of a missing Machesney Park woman are trying to raise money to fund search efforts.

Katrina Smith has been missing for two and a half weeks. Hundreds of People are expected to come out for a public benefit for her tonight at Casey’s Pub in Loves Park. Her family says the money raised will be used for reward money and for search costs like hiring cadaver dogs and printing flyers.

http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Benefit-for-Katrina-Smith-177981271.html

ROCKFORD — The Roscoe Police and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is asking area residents to search their private property and out-buildings for any signs of a local woman who has been missing since Oct. 23.

Katrina Smith, 30, was reported missing to the Roscoe Police Department Oct. 23 and search efforts by law enforcement officials and private citizens have continued since then.

Smith is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs about 120 pounds. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing black pants with a red top. She was last seen around 9 p.m. on Oct. 22 in Machesney Park. Her car was found Oct. 23 in Machesney Park.

Anyone with information should call the sheriff’s department at 815-319-6400 or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/stateline-area-news-in-brief/article_b819636c-29ba-11e2-aae5-0019bb2963f4.html

Katrina Smith ♡ Come Home



Published on Nov 8, 2012 by kbaybay98

This video was played at her Benefit on 11/8/2012, Katrina Smith is missing from Rockford IL. She went missing on October 22nd, 2012. If you have any information on her please contact (815) 319-6400. Thanks so much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ViYAyKkaY

I detest when the last reported sighting is a spouse... it always leaves me wondering. I wish that they would say if anyone corroborated that story. Katrina hopefully you are found soon.

Family Of Missing Machesney Park Woman Hold Fundraiser

By: Alex de Leon
Updated: November 8, 2012

Video/Text:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=363602

justanopinion wrote:I detest when the last reported sighting is a spouse... it always leaves me wondering. I wish that they would say if anyone corroborated that story. Katrina hopefully you are found soon.

I'm afraid this might be a case of another woman "erased'. I wonder why Katrina's husband made a public statement to contradict the police report stating that he and Katrina were separated, he said that the police was wrong, he alleged that they were not separated and that they were "happily married", the police told the media that they stand behind their report, but did not comment on the husband's statements. This case brings to my mind visions of several other similar cases involving a woman's sudden disappearance.

I'm wondering why the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department has not asked for assistance from other agencies to help them with the search, e.g., the Illinois State Police canine unit, or the FBI canine unit. I hope that she is found, it is obvious that her family and the volunteers who are assisting them in the searches are looking for a body. ):

Female Body Found In Rock River (VIDEO)

By: Robert Burke
Updated: November 9, 2012

The Byron Fire Department and Police Department responded RT 2 and Town Line Rd. in Byron after a body was discovered in the Rock River.

Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn has confirmed that the body is female.

At 12:30, an off duty Byron firefighter was fishing in the river. He spotted the body and called authorities.

Winnebago County detectives were also on scene, but would not comment. Winnebago County is investigating the disappearance of 30-year-old Katrina Smith, who has not been seen in nearly two weeks.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. in the Ogle County Morgue.

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=363732

________


View Larger Map

Byron, IL, RT 2 and Town Line Rd, Ogle County

Woman’s body recovered from Rock River near Byron

Posted Nov 09, 2012 @ 04:19 PM

BYRON — The Byron Fire Department’s water rescue team recovered the body of a white female from the Rock River about one mile south of this community this afternoon.

About 1:30 p.m., an off-duty firefighter fishing in the river saw the body ensnared in a tree about 65 yards north of an Illinois Department of Transportation boat ramp and about 65 yards into the river.

~Snipped~

There was no indication of whether the body is that of the missing Smith.
Rescuers said the body appeared to have been in the water for some time and had started to deteriorate. The body was clothed but because of the length of time that had passed, the clothing had faded to the point of being unidentifiable.

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/updates/x255968526/Woman-s-body-recovered-from-Rock-River-near-Byron

Body Found in Rock River (VIDEO)

Posted: Fri 4:51 PM, Nov 09, 2012
Updated: Fri 5:40 PM, Nov 09, 2012

Reporter: Whitney Martin

UPDATE: BYRON (WIFR) -- After a woman's body is found in the Rock River, detectives say it could take more than a day to identify the woman.

~Snipped~

Right now, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is stepping in to Ogle County's territory, because Katrina Smith is actively missing.

Investigators want to make sure, if the unidentified woman ends up being Smith, that they are a part of the investigation from the beginning.

To be clear, investigators have not identified the body at this time.

Read more:

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/Body-Found-South-of-Byron-178153581.html

Findkatrinasmith
6 hours ago.

ATTENTION: FROM FAMILY!!
Please do not contact the Family until Law Enforcement Officials notify us on the details of the Female Body found in the river South of Byron; it is not confirmed on who it is; we will notify you all when able; please be considerate and give us a few hours to find out. Thank you again for all you have done; God Bless you all, Chad.....

https://www.facebook.com/Findkatrinasmith

Woman's Body Found in Rock River

By: Marty Kasper
Updated: November 9, 2012

BYRON - Shortly after noon Friday an off duty Byron fire fighter was fishing in the waters just south of the city of Byron, when "he believed that he located a body on the Rock River," said Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn.

~Snipped~

"It appears it's been in the water for a period of time, to what extent I can't tell you," said Harn.

~Snipped~

"It's a little decomposed, but I think that were going to be able to positively I.D. her," said Harn.

At this point Harn can't say how the body got there or how the woman might have died, nor did he see any trauma marks on her body.

"I didn't notice any," said Harn. "But I can't say until after the coroner does his job."

Read more:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=363852

Chad Kaltved
For those wondering; nothing new yet. Awaiting the autopsy in the AM; then the family will get word on whether or not it is Katrina. We are all probably not going to sleep much tonight. Amazing how the entire community is so connected and driven by her story. God Bless you all and how you have kept us motivated throughout the week. It has been sad, but an amazing journey. I'll be sure to post anything as soon as we hear. Love you all, Chad...

https://www.facebook.com/Findkatrinasmith

UPDATED: Body found in Rock River identified as Katrina Smith (VIDEO)

Posted: Nov 10, 2012 2:35 PM CST
Updated: Nov 10, 2012 7:14 PM CST
By Matt Groves
By Lauren Reimer


The search for missing Machesney Park woman Katrina Smith comes to an end.

Just after noon yesterday, a woman's body was spotted floating in the Rock River, south of Byron. That body has been identified as Katrina Smith.

The Ogle County Sheriffs Department was on the scene yesterday. They helped to remove the body from the water. An autopsy was performed this morning. Dental records can now confirm the woman is Katrina Smith, The Machesney Park woman who went missing 20 days ago.

Read more:

http://www.wrex.com/story/20062287/breaking-body-found-in-rock-river-identified-as-katrina-smith

Findkatrinasmith
8 hours ago.

Message from the Family:
Our thanks and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support. At this time the family is asking for their privacy to be respected. A statement from the family will be released at a later time. God bless and thank you for your prayers!

https://www.facebook.com/Findkatrinasmith

Katrina Smith's body found in Rock River near Byron

By Jennifer Wheeler and Kevin Haas
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 10, 2012 @ 02:11 PM
Last update Nov 10, 2012 @ 07:21 PM

This story has been updated.

ROCKFORD — More than two weeks after 30-year-old Katrina Smith vanished from her Machesney Park home, authorities confirmed that the body found Friday in the Rock River was hers.

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department used dental records Saturday to confirm that the body was that of Smith. Winnebago County Sgt. Larry Marino said the cause and time of her death are yet to be determined.

“We’re trying to just move forward to determine what happened leading up to her death,” Marino added.

Todd Smith, 45, reported his wife missing to police Oct. 23. She was last seen Oct. 22 as she left her Tetterhall Lane home in Machesney Park to run an errand.

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x2053822193/Katrina-Smith-found-dead-in-Rock-River

Ogle County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremy Pennington and Byron Fire Chaplain Gary Cortese watch as the body of Katrina A. Smith, 30, is recovered from the Rock River and moved to the coroner's van. Photo by Earleen Hinton

http://www.oglecountynews.com/2012/11/09/body-found-in-rock-river-south-of-byron-identified-as-katrina-a-smith/axikjwn/

Breaking: Body Identified as Katrina Smith

Posted: Sat 2:08 PM, Nov 10, 2012
Updated: Sat 3:00 PM, Nov 10, 2012

Reporter: From the Winnebago County Sheriff's Police

~Snipped~

The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is taking the case back from Ogle County and will continue the investigation into her disappearance and death.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Department and Ogle County Sheriff Harn request that any media inquiries be directed to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.

Further inquiries can be made through Sergeant Larry Marino 815-509-2191.

Read more:

http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Breaking-Body-Identified-as-Katrina-Smith-178434131.html

Findkatrinasmith
55 minutes ago.

Message from the family to the community
We can never thank you enough for your outpouring of support, love, and prayers. We invite you all to be a part of celebrating the life of Katrina.

Katrina Ashley Smith - Grace Funeral & Cremation Services

http://www.gracefh.com/obituaries/Katrina-Smith/#/Obituary

WIFR TV
3 hours ago

Katrina Smith's family has decided to only speak with 23 News. We will air tonight's interview on the Update at 10. We know so many of you have been following this story.

Whitney Martin
Journalist

https://www.facebook.com/23WIFR

Family sets Visitation and Funeral for Katrina Smith

By: Sabrina Santucci
Updated: November 11, 2012



Smith's family cannot thank the public enough for its outpouring of support, love and prayers. They are inviting the public to attend her visitation.

Services will be held Friday from 5 to 9 PM and Saturday from 10 to 11 AM at Heartland Church, 1280 Alpine Rd. Rockford. Smith's funeral is to follow.

Katrina Smith's body was pulled from the Rock River in Ogle County on Friday. Smith was reported missing on October 23rd.

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=364092

Only on 23 News: Family of Katrina Smith Speaks Out (VIDEO)

Posted: Sun 9:48 PM, Nov 11, 2012

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- The family of a missing Machesney Park woman speaks out for the first time since the victim's body was found in the Rock River nearly three weeks since she went missing.

“My biggest fear was never finding her, so it gave me a little relief here,” says Katrina Smith’s mother Vicki Nalevac.

Family members say they are devastated by the news. Katrina’s loved ones and complete strangers have been searching the Stateline since she went missing. Winnebago County detectives are not releasing Katrina’s cause of death. They think it could hurt the investigation......

Read more:

http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Only-on-23-News-Family-of-Katrina-Smith-Speaks-Out-178750521.html

It is my fervent prayer that these people get the answers about how but more importantly who took this woman's life. Katrina deserves to have whomever did this found and brought to justice. My condolences to the family.

Police seeking information in woman's death

Posted: Monday, November 12, 2012 4:00 pm
By Daily News staff

Winnebago County authorites continue to seek information about the death of Katrina Smith, whose body was recovered and identified over the weekend.

Nearly three weeks after she was reported missing, the body of Katrina Smith was found Friday in the Rock River south of Byron, Ill.

Ogle County authorities were called to the scene. On Saturday an autopsy was conducted by the Ogle County Coroner’s Office and based on dental records, the body was positively identified as Katrina Smith, according to information from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.

According to officials with the Ogle County Coroner’s Office, a cause of death has not been determined yet. The office is awaiting toxicology results which will take about two weeks to obtain.

Read more:

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/local/police-seeking-information-in-woman-s-death/article_6896d550-2ce3-11e2-bd2b-001a4bcf887a.html

Katrina Smith Investigation

Posted: Mon 5:01 PM, Nov 12, 2012A
Updated: Mon 5:10 PM, Nov 12, 2012
Reporter: Whitney Martin

UPDATE: MACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) -- We're hoping to learn more this week about how Katrina Smith, the Machesney Park woman who disappeared three weeks ago, died.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department tells us they expect to release more information this week. Smith's body was found floating in the Rock River just south of Byron, Friday. An autopsy was done over the weekend, however the results have not yet been made public. A visitation is scheduled for later in the week.

Read more:

http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Breaking-Body-Identified-as-Katrina-Smith-178434131.html

Winn. Co. Sheriff To Answer Questions About Katrina Smith Investigation

By: Alex de Leon
Updated: November 12, 2012

(VIDEO)

Winn. Co. - Many questions surround the death of Katrina Smith. Tomorrow, the Winn. Co. Sheriff's Dept. may answer them.

A news conference is scheduled for tomorrow morning with an update on the investigation. The search for Smith ended Friday when a fisherman found a body in the Rock River near Byron.

An autopsy on Saturday confirmed the body was in fact Smith. She was missing for 18 days.

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=364392

'We want justice': Siblings talk post-search about Katrina Smith

By Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 12, 2012 @ 10:47 PM
Last update Nov 12, 2012 @ 10:50 PM


Miraynda Castro listens as her brother, Chad Kaltved, talks about their late sister, Katrina Smith, Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, at the family's home in Rockford

~Snipped~

Monday, Katrina’s two siblings gathered with others at a family member’s southeast side Rockford home and spoke at length about the woman who, on a daily basis, brought hundreds of people together for one cause.

They said Katrina was a wife and stepmother to three girls ages 21, 18 and 16. She worked with her husband, Todd, in insurance for seven years before working in the human resources department at Camryn Company in Belvidere.

~Snipped~

Although Chad and Miraynda did not grow up together, Katrina was the bond between them.

Kaltved said he has grown closer to his sister.

“In the two weeks being here, I feel like we’ve known each other for all of our lives. I don’t want to leave.

~Snipped~

Kaltved and Castro declined to talk about why, how or who caused their sister’s death, if indeed it was by foul play.

But until those questions are answered, Kaltved said there is no closure for the family.

“We want justice,” he said. “We’re not going to be happy until we find out who did this. ... We’re confident law enforcement is going to finish this thing.”

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1582302977/We-want-justice-Siblings-talk-about-3-week-search-for-Katrina-Smith

Findkatrinasmith's Albums

https://www.facebook.com/Findkatrinasmith/photos

Katrina Smith Investigation

Posted: Tue 10:55 AM, Nov 13, 2012

UPDATE: MACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) -- The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office has released the results of Katrina Smith's autopsy.

The results of the autopsy showed Ms. Smith suffered blunt force trauma, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is classifying this as a homicide investigation.

Read more:

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/Breaking-Body-Identified-as-Katrina-Smith-178434131.html

Ogle County Coroner: Katrina Smith Murdered

Autopsy results show that Katrina Smith, 30, died from blunt force trauma.

By: Robert Burke
Updated: November 13, 2012

On November 10, 2012, an autopsy was conducted by the Ogle County Coroner's Office. Detectives from the Ogle County and Winnebago County Sheriff's Departments attended the autopsy. Based on dental records, the female was positively identified as Katrina Smith.

The results of the autopsy showed Ms. Smith suffered blunt force trauma, and the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is classifying this as a homicide investigation. Katrina Smith was reported missing on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

Read more:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=364512

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION-(KATRINA SMITH)
11/13/12

Winnebago County Sheriff's Office
OfficeNews Media Release

INFORMATION: HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION-(KATRINA SMITH)

http://www.winnebagosheriff.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=160

Authorities investigate Katrina Smith's death as homicide

By Jeff Kolkey
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:09 AM
Last update Nov 13, 2012 @ 01:07 PM

MACHESNEY PARK — An autopsy shows that Katrina Smith, 30, suffered “blunt force trauma” and investigators believe she was a homicide victim.

That’s according to Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police who today released a one-sentence update of previous news releases.

Smith’s body was found Friday by an off-duty firefighter fishing in the Rock River near Byron. She had been missing since Oct. 22 when she was last seen by her husband Todd Smith, 45, leaving their Machesney Park home.

Smith did not show up for work the next day on Oct. 23 at Camryn Company in Belvidere where she worked in the human resources department. She was reported missing by Todd Smith, sparking a massive hunt that included friends, families and volunteers searching for her or any clue about what happened to her.

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1582303003/Funeral-services-for-Katrina-Smith-this-weekend

Investigators say Katrina Smith was beaten to death

By Jeff Kolkey and Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:09 AM
Last update Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:06 PM


Chad Kaltved talks about his late sister, Katrina Smith, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, during a news conference at Heartland Church in Rockford.

ROCKFORD — Katrina Smith, 30, suffered “blunt force trauma,” and investigators believe she was a homicide victim.

Today was the first time authorities publicly classified the case as a homicide, but Sheriff Dick Meyers said, “We’ve treated it as a homicide from day one.”

~Snipped~

An autopsy performed Saturday in Ogle County confirmed Winnebago County investigators’ suspicions that Smith’s disappearance was because of foul play.

“There were several points of blunt-force throughout the body,” Meyers said.

As for how long Smith had been dead before she was discovered, Meyers said, “Every indication to us is she was in the river since the night she came up missing.”

Meyers said the next step entails awaiting analysis of evidence submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1582303003/Funeral-services-for-Katrina-Smith-this-weekend

(San Francisco Chronicle)

Autopsy: Machesney Park woman's death a homicide

Updated 11:12 a.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2012

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (AP) — A northern Illinois woman whose disappearance sparked a massive search suffered "blunt force trauma" and an autopsy ruled her death a homicide, Winnebago County Sheriff's Police said Tuesday.

Katrina Smith, 30, of Machesney Park was last seen Oct. 22. She didn't show up for her human resources job at Camryn Company in Belvidere on Oct. 23.

Read more:

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Autopsy-Machesney-Park-woman-s-death-a-homicide-4033340.php

________

(Chicago Tribune)

Autopsy shows missing Machesney Park woman's death a homicide

By Associated Press
10:34 a.m. CST, November 13, 2012

MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. (AP) — Police say the death of a northern Illinois woman whose disappearance sparked a massive search has been ruled a homicide.

Winnebago County Sheriff's Police said Tuesday that autopsy results for 30-year-old Katrina Smith of Machesney Park show she suffered "blunt force trauma." The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/QEs5LF) an off-duty firefighter fishing on the Rock River found Smith's body Friday in the water near Byron. Smith's husband, 45-year-old Todd Smith, reported her missing. He last saw her Oct. 22 leaving their home. Police have said the couple was separated.

Read more:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il--machesney-park-homicide-20121113,0,6520323.story

Katrina Smith news conference
Nov 13, 2012 @ 09:38 PM.

Chad Kaltved talks about his sister, Katrina Smith, and her death being ruled a homicide

http://www.rrstar.com/videos/x1582303299/Katrina-Smith-news-conference

Cause of woman’s death ruled homicide

Posted: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 4:00 pm
By Daily News staff

~Snipped~

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro, said investigators are still awaiting crime lab results and other evidence in the case.

He said the final report from the Ogle County Coroner’s office has not been completed and the sheriff’s department also is awaiting results from the crime lab and from the forensic pathologist’s report.

Iasparro said the sheriff’s department has received many contacts from the public regarding this case.

“Over the time from when she was first reported as missing to the time her body was found, we have received multiple phone calls assisting us with the investigation,” Iasparro said.

~Snipped~

Anyone with information about this case should call the sheriff’s department at 815-319-6400 or the Rockford Area Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/cause-of-woman-s-death-ruled-homicide/article_9cb3cada-2e75-11e2-baae-001a4bcf887a.html

Photos of the area where Katrina Smith's body was found

Click here.

Visitation Tonight for Katrina Smith

Posted: Fri 5:12 PM, Nov 16, 2012

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Hundreds of Stateliners are expected to attend the visitation of Katrina Smith, a Machesney Park woman whose body was found in the rock river last week.

The visitation is at Heartland Community Church and will continue until 9 o'clock tonight.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 11 a-m. In the meantime, the investigation into her death is still ongoing. Today, sheriff's deputies revisited the site where her body was found in the hopes of finding more evidence.

http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Visitation-Tonight-for-Katrina-Smith-179734171.html

Hundreds Turn Out to Say Goodbye to Katrina Smith

By: Matt Mershon
Updated: November 16, 2012

(VIDEO)

ROCKFORD - Friends and family of Katrina Smith gathered Friday night to say goodbye to her, along with hundreds from the community who Smith had never met. Her face became familiar to many when she went from being a missing person to a murder victim.

No one at Heartland Church wanted to be there on Friday. It was the location of Smith's visitation and will be the location for her funeral on Saturday. Smith went missing nearly three weeks ago on October 23rd and her body was discovered in the Rock River south of Byron.

Anybody with a connection to Katrina Smith came out to say goodbye to her Friday night. Many claimed their kids played sports together; some said they went to school with her. Cynthia Abruzzo is a former neighbor of Katrina's family.

"Just a very sweet little girl, very neat, very girly," Abruzzo said as she described the little girl who grew up in the house next door.

Read more:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=365442

Family Pays Final Respects to Katrina Smith

By: Nick McGill
Updated: November 17, 2012

(VIDEO)

Hundreds gathered at Heartland Community Church to pay their final respects to Katrina Smith. Pastor Gordy smith called the ceremony a "celebration of her life". An emotional ceremony, members of Katrina's family held back tears as they said goodbye to their loved one. Smith's sister, Miranda Castro Said that while Katrina may be gone she will never be forgotten.

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=365562

Family and friends say final goodbye to Katrina Smith

Posted: Nov 17, 2012 8:40 PM CST
By Lauren Reimer

~Snipped~

"The community came together for another senseless death. I was very close to the family, at least part of it," said Bradley Henry. "This just adds to the grief of Rockford."

~Snipped~

Katrina's body was found south of Byron nearly three weeks after she went missing. An autopsy confirms her death was a murder. And her killer, has not yet been found.

Her cause of death is blunt force trauma. Police are still taking a closer look into the night she disappeared.

The family chose to hold the funeral services at Heartland church, where Katrina worked with youth groups.

Read more:

http://www.wrex.com/story/20127894/family-and-friends-say-final-goodby-to-katrina-smith

A family, community mourns loss of Katrina Smith

RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 17, 2012 @ 08:58 PM
Last update Nov 17, 2012 @ 09:00 PM

About a week after Katrina Smith’s broken body was found in the Rock River south of Byron, hundreds gathered at Rockford’s Heartland Church to pay final respects Saturday to the beloved 30-year-old Machesney Park woman whose disappearance stunned a community and left her devastated family looking for answers.

Katrina Smith had been missing since Oct. 22. Her disappearance sparked a public outpouring of support. Volunteers, family members and police had conducted daily searches for any clue about what happened to her. So far, no arrests have been announced in what police have classified a homicide.


The funeral procession for Katrina Smith leaves
Heartland Church Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, in
Rockford. The missing 30-year-old Machesney
Park woman was killed and found nearly three
weeks later in the Rock River south of Byron. No
arrests have been made in connection to her
death.

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1582305220/A-family-community-mourns-loss-of-Katrina-Smith?img=4

Findkatrinasmith
20 hours ago.

This Facebook page was started in an effort to find Katrina Smith who went missing on October 22, 2012. Katrina's story has united a community and impacted the lives of countless people. This page will continue to exist in honor of Katrina ...and as a reminder of what love in action looks like.

The family plans to begin a foundation for which a new Facebook page will be created in days to come. Please stay tuned for further details.

Thank you to the community, businesses, and organizations that poured out in an unprecedented way to be the strength and encouragement that supported the family.

https://www.facebook.com/Findkatrinasmith

Winnebago County Sheriff's

PoliceNews Media Release News

Release Number2012-032
Information: Missing Person
Date: October 24, 2012
Time: 3:30P.M. Page 1 of 1

On the evening of Tuesday October 23, 2012 Katrina A. Smith (white female/ DOB 7-16-82/30yrs old) was reported missing to the Roscoe Police Department. She was reported missing by her husband. At approximately 7:50P.M.the same evening, Ms Smith’s vehicle was located un-occupied at the intersection of Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park Illinois.

~Snipped~

Ms Smith reportedly was last seen by her husband late Monday night October 22, 2012 leaving home to run an errand. Ms Smith also lives in Machesney Park. At this point it is unknown if Ms Smith left on her own or if she is the victim of foul play.

http://www.winnebagosheriff.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=324&Itemid=160

Why did Katrina's husband wait until the evening of the next day to report her missing?

The Police press release doesn't mention the exact time Katrina's husband filed the missing person report, but it states that "at approximately 7:50P.M. the same evening, Ms Smith’s vehicle was located" ...

According to the following information, there is no statutory waiting period to file a missing person report in Illinois:

Illinois Compiled Statutes 50 ILCS 722 Missing Persons Identification Act. Section 5

50 ILCS 722/5)

Sec. 5. Missing person reports.

(a) Report acceptance. All law enforcement agencies shall accept without delay any report of a missing person. Acceptance of a missing person report filed in person may not be refused on any ground. No law enforcement agency may refuse to accept a missing person report:

(1) on the basis that the missing person is an adult;

(2) on the basis that the circumstances do not

indicate foul play;

(3) on the basis that the person has been missing for

a short period of time;

(4) on the basis that the person has been missing a

long period of time;

(5) on the basis that there is no indication that the

missing person was in the jurisdiction served by the law enforcement agency at the time of the disappearance;

(6) on the basis that the circumstances suggest that

the disappearance may be voluntary;

Read more:

http://law.onecle.com/illinois/50ilcs722/5.html

Family of Katrina Smith Plans to Start Katrina Smith Foundation

By: Vi Nguyen
Updated: November 20, 2012

(VIDEO)

November 20, 2012 (ROCKFORD) -- Schoonmaker Park is where it all started where dozens of family, friends, and community searched for Katrina Smith, 30. Smith's body was discovered in the Rock River in Bryon.

Sitting at Schoonmaker Park now reminds Katrina's brother Chad Kaltved of the tremoundous outpouring support they received from so many hoping to find her alive.

Read more:

http://mystateline.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=366072

UPDATED: Todd Smith arrested for murder of Katrina Smith

Posted: Nov 21, 2012 3:12 PM CST
Updated: Nov 21, 2012 10:56 PM CST
By Samantha Jeffreys
By Kelsie Passolt


Todd Smith

ROCKFORD (WREX) - Todd Smith has been arrested for the murder of his wife, Katrina Smith.

He has been charged with four counts of first degree murder and one count of concealing a homicide. Concealing a homicide means he's accused of placing her body into the river. Two of his first degree murder counts indicate that there were elements of brutal and heinous behavior. If convicted he faces 20 to 100 years in prison. Investigators believe he acted alone in this alleged crime.

Smith was taken into custody at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21, after police pulled over the car he was in with the purpose of arresting him. The arrest warrant was signed and issued that same day. He is being held on $4 million bond and will appear in court on November 24.

Videos at link - Read more:

http://www.wrex.com/story/20160571/2012/11/21/press-conference-to-be-held-on-katrina-smith-case

Katrina Smith's step-brother speaks out about Todd Smith's arrest

Posted: Nov 21, 2012 10:48 PM CST
Updated: Nov 21, 2012 10:48 PM CST
By Kelsie Passolt

Chad Kaltved

Katrina Smith's husband spends tonight in the Winnebago County jail. Police arrested Todd Smith Wednesday afternoon, charged him with four counts of 1st degree murder. His bond is set at $4 million. Just hours after he was taken in by the county's Sheriff's police, Katrina Smith's step-brother Chad Kaltved was ready to talk.

Since he first arrived in Rockford from North Carolina, Kaltved's goal has been to support the family, that included Todd Smith. Those feelings have changed.

"At this point I'm not going to say I 100% back him up, but it's hard because he was a family member, somebody who knew my wife and kids, he was married to my sister, I trusted him, and also because we don't have all the information yet. But, definitely my mind is shifting and thinking other things." -he says.

Video at link - Read more:

http://www.wrex.com/story/20163296/2012/11/21/katrina-smiths-step-brother-speaks-out-about-her-husbands-arrest

Katrina Smith's husband charged with first-degree murder

By Kevin Haas
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 21, 2012 @ 04:25 PM
Last update Nov 21, 2012 @ 08:27 PM


KEVIN HAAS
State's Attorney Joe Bruscato announces first-degree murder charges against Todd Smith on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. Assistant Deputy State's Attorney Jim Brun looks on.

ROCKFORD — Todd C. Smith, who had reported his wife Katrina Smith missing about a month ago, was charged Wednesday with her murder.

Smith, 45, was arrested peacefully around 2:45 p.m. when Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a vehicle near a neighborhood off Spring Creek Road, Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro said. Smith was a passenger in the vehicle, which was pulled over to execute the arrest.

He is charged with four counts of first degree murder and one count of concealing a homicide. The state’s attorney’s office issued four counts in pursuit of different charging theories under the criminal code. Two counts allege “brutal and heinous” acts, State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato said Wednesday at a news conference to announce the charges.

Read more:

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1559138002/Katrina-Smiths-husband-charged-with-murder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzPv5CfaptM