5 key details about Leslie Reeves' murder

Leslie Reeves, a 44-year-old mother of two, was starting to explore the world of online dating and had even met an eligible man named Chris Smith. However, the first date, which started well between them at the Uptown Saloon in Farmersville, Illinois, on November 24, 2021, ended with Leslie getting murdered and Chris Smith barely surviving his gunshot injury.

This brutal case, which still haunts Illinois to this day, is the subject of the upcoming episode of 48 Hours on CBS, titled Fatal First Date. The episode will air at 10 p.m. EST on November 2, 2024. The synopsis for the same reads:

"A couple's first date ends with an ambush. Both are shot. Can the only survivor identify the shooter? "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports."

This case is replete with small but interesting details that paint a picture of a jealous ex-boyfriend, who ended up murdering both his ex-girlfriend and her new date in a very brutal manner. Let's go over five such details ahead of the episode's air time.

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Five chilling details about Leslie Reeves' murder and Chris Smith's attempted murder

1) Bobby Tarr allegedly followed Leslie Reeves and Chris Smith when they met up for the first time

After getting introduced online, Leslie Reeves and Chris Smith set up their first date at the Uptown Saloon in Farmersville, Illinois, on November 24, 2021, where one of Chris' friends was allegedly playing a gig.

They decided to go to Chris' place following this. Though Bobby Tarr hasn't admitted to this, authorities have alleged that he was following them all throughout and decided to break into Chris's home at around 1 a.m.

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2) Bobby Tarr reportedly forced his way in despite Chris and Leslie's best attempts to stop him

Chris Smith became an unintended victim of the crime (Image via Pexels)

Although most things about that night are blurry in Chris Smith's mind, as he was shot in the head, he later recalled that he and Leslie were making a pizza when Tarr tried to break in. Leslie Reeves tried to block the storm door by moving the refrigerator against it while Chris reportedly tried to push it shut. Tarr reportedly fired through the door and hit Chris in the head.

He later murdered Leslie in the living room.

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3) Chris Smith's dog Tikki was instrumental in his survival

Before Leslie's friend called the authorities for a welfare check, Tikki, Chris Smith's dog kept him warm for nearly 14 hours, which was instrumental in his survival. Smith, too, later acknowledged that his three-year-old beagle-terrier mix was the reason he's alive.

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4) Bobby Tarr was connected to the crime almost immediately

Leslie Reeves was found dead in the living room (Image via Pexels)

Right after the authorities had started looking into the case, they singled out Bobby Tarr, an ex-boyfriend of Leslie Reeves. Not only did he have inconsistencies in his story while the police questioned him, but he also expressed his jealousy over Leslie's date to a friend shortly before the incident. His cellphone ping confirmed the suspicion.

Although he claimed he didn't commit the shooting, the jury convicted him of first-degree murder, and he was sent to prison for 85 years.

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5) Chris Smith has still not fully recovered from the attack

Chris Smith sustained a shot to the head, which led to complications. He required brain surgery and spent an extensive seven weeks in the ICU. He also reportedly suffered from three strokes. His road to recovery was hardly an easy one and even now, Chris is still partially disabled and relies on a wheelchair and a cane for mobility.

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The upcoming episode of 48 Hours on CBS will cover this case in more detail.