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A former media communications specialist from New Hampshire, Pamela Smart, was in the national spotlight in 1990 over accusations related to her husband's murder. The case received wide media coverage due to its nature: Pamela, aged 22 then, was suspected of manipulating some teenage boys, among them her 15-year-old lover Billy Flynn, into murdering her husband.
In 1991, she was convicted as an accomplice to first-degree murder, conspiracy to murder, and tampering with a witness. Her sentence was life without parole. Pamela Smart is currently serving her life sentence at New York's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. All those years, she persisted in her claim of innocence, pursuing higher education and fighting for women's rights in prison.
Recently, Pamela joined the long list of confessed criminals, again drawing public attention to her case. Now, ABC's 20/20 revisits and gets personal into her story, detailing her life, conviction, and continuous struggle for a reduced sentence.
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The investigation and subsequent arrest
On May 1, 1990, Gregg Smart was found murdered, which seemed like just another burglary gone bad. The body of Gregg lay in a pool of blood inside the condominium of the couple, shot in the head. The appearance at the crime scene looked like a robbery gone wrong, but detectives had qualms regarding that.
Their suspicions proved well-founded when they received an anonymous tip from a concerned parent, which led them to three teenage boys: Billy Flynn, Patrick "Pete" Randall, and Vance Lattime Jr., all from Winnacunnet High School. The boys eventually turned themselves in and incriminated Pamela as the supposed mastermind of the whole crime.
The case against Pamela was beefed up when one of her students, Cecilia Pierce—who was closer than others to Pamela—agreed to wear a wire to record conversations with her. It is from these tapes that she incriminated herself, and consequently, the police arrested her on 1 August 1990.
She was charged with murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit murder, and tampering with witnesses. As it happened, the trial was one of the very first live broadcasts, and it concluded in March 1991 with Pamela's conviction.
Pamela Smart's prison life
Convicted of the crime, Pamela Smart has been serving her life sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York. However, with all the odds against her, she has made complete efforts to improve her life inside prison. She furthered her education, attaining two masters, one in Literature and another in Legal Studies.
She also became an influential member of the National Organization for Women. She has also been an outspoken advocate for prison reform, especially regarding the condition of women prisoners.
All these years, Pamela Smart has stuck to her story: she didn't know anything regarding the boys' plot to kill her husband. Making an explosive turn of events in June 2024, she confessed to the crime for the very first time.
With her confession, renewed interest has been created in her case, whereby some well-wishers are canvassing for a reduction of her sentence while others feel justice was duly served.
Consequences of the case and Pamela's Legal Battle
The Pamela Smart case has had strong repercussions on American society regarding media influence and the role of female offenders in violent crimes, as well as mechanical manipulation and control in relationships. Due to the extensive media coverage, this would have been seen as the first and precedent case for mass attraction by the public towards criminal cases.
It sets a precedent for the complex nuances of the law concerning young offenders and the broader implications of sentencing. Pamela's legal battle has since consisted of various appeals and petitions that have been met with failure. In March 2023, Pamela exhausted the final available legal channel; she remains on a life sentence.
The case of Pamela Smart is globalized—the tale of how a 'normal' life can suddenly take a tragic and very unforeseen turn. To this day, 57-year-old Pamela Smart continues her life sentence, and her latest admission of guilt has added a new meaning to the already controversial story.
