Joe Smith

Shortly before midnight on December 30, 1975, 18-year-old Sandy Spencer finished work at a fast food restaurant and began hitchhiking home. Smith picked her up and drove her to a desert location north and west of Phoenix. There he bound her, forced dirt into her mouth and nostrils and taped her mouth closed.

Ms. Spencer died of asphyxiation, but to satisfy himself that she was actually dead, Smith stabbed her numerous times and embedded a two-inch long sewing needle in her breast.

Ms. Spencer's nude body was found on January 1, 1976. In late January of 1976, Smith picked up another hitchhiker, 14-year-old Neva Lee. Smith took the girl to another desert location and killed her by forcing dirt into her mouth and nostrils and taping her mouth closed. Ms. Lee also died of asphyxiation, was stabbed several times, and had been jabbed in the breasts with needles. Her nude body was discovered on February 2, 1976.

Smith was first tried and convicted for the murder of Neva Lee. Several days into the trial for the murder of Sandy Spencer, Smith entered a plea of guilty to the charge.

Source: Arizona Department of Corrections