Carlie Brucia's Killer Gets Death Sentence

Joseph Smith, who was convicted of the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, has been sentenced to death for the Feb. 1, 2001 abduction that caught the nation's attention because it was captured on videotape and shown constantly on news broadcasts for three days, before her body was found.

The Super Bowl Sunday 2001 abduction of Carlie Brucia (pictured) was captured on the security camera of a car wash as she walked home from spending the night at a friend's house. Smith's own brother, John Smith, identified him from the videotape as a witness for the prosecution.

In December 2005, a jury deliberated for five hours before voting 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. Today the judge followed the jury's recommendation and condemned the 39-year-old Smith to death.

Smith was given two life-without-parole sentences for the kidnapping and sexual assault of Carlie; he was given the death sentence for her murder, with aggravating circumstances, including the "unspeakable terror" of her impending death, the judge said.

After the jury voted for the death penalty in December, Carlie's mother, Susan Nancy Schorpen, told the press that Smith's automatic appeal process under Florida law would take more years that Smith allowed Carlie to live. However, Florida's automatic appeal process takes only 18 to 24 months, unlike most other states.

See Also:
Fla. Girl's Killer Gets Death Sentence

Earlier Article:
Jury Votes Death for Carlie's Killer

Background:
Carlie Brucia: A Child Is Abducted on Videotape
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