On January 23, 2008, Rhonda Smith was discovered face down in an office at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania. Watch Philly Homicide On Saturdays on Oxygen and Peacock. Smith, 42, had been shot twice. Judy Zellner, BloodVitals health a detailed friend of the sufferer, BloodVitals SPO2 stumbled upon the horrifying scene when she arrived at 12:30 p.m. Zellner’s frantic 911 name will be heard in the "Sinner and Saint" episode of Philly Homicide, BloodVitals test airing Saturdays at 9/8c p.m. "She’s dead," Zellner informed the dispatcher. "There’s blood all over her head and round her head." But when paramedics arrived, they'd found that Smith was still clinging to life, and she was rushed to the hospital. Who was Rhonda Smith? Investigators realized that Smith had been a member of the church for 2 years. The pastor and congregation had embraced her, and she’d recently taken a component-time job there. "She could not handle a full-time job at the church," said Zellner.

Smith's psychological well being impacted her profession. "Rhonda had a ardour for instructing. She had a ardour for youngsters," Deanna Durante, a reporter for BloodVitals wearable Philadelphia-primarily based WCAU, said on Philly Homicide. Smith pursued instructing in faculty. "But bipolar got to her right on the final semester, and she by no means graduated," mentioned Zellner. Smith yearned for independence and BloodVitals wearable moved into her own apartment. Money was tight. She shared with church pastor Greg Shreaves that she was having hassle paying her payments. The pastor rallied members of the congregation to help. "Some of us gave her cash and some reward playing cards, and they put it in a Christmas card," mentioned Zellner. "Three days earlier than Rhonda Smith was found, she stood in entrance of her congregation and thanked them for all of the help they had given her," stated Durante. Pennsylvania State Troopers processed the scene. They collected bullet fragments that would assist determine the form of gun the shooter used.

"The police additionally took possession of the workplace computer for an skilled to do a forensic evaluation," stated David W. Zellis, who was then a first Assistant District Attorney within the Bucks County DA's Office. As troopers interviewed church members, the subject of suicide came up. The fact that Smith was shot twice didn’t mechanically rule that out. But there was no gun on the scene, home SPO2 device which led to more questions. "Detectives requested me, did I kick a gun, did I see a gun, did I conceal a gun? Several hours after the taking pictures, Smith’s dad and mom made the tough choice to finish life support. "We circled round her, holding arms," Zellner advised Philly Homicide. What have been the outcomes of Rhonda Smith's autopsy? Smith had been shot twice. "One was a glancing wound to her head, BloodVitals wearable and the other one had penetrated her skull," mentioned Richard Webb, Jr., who was then a lieutenant with the Pennsylvania State Police. The forensic pathologist noticed gunpowder stippling on Smith’s forehead and on her hand.

The proof indicated that she raised her hand in a defensive position. The proof ruled out suicide and Smith's demise was categorized as a homicide. From the bullet fragments, investigators determined that the homicide weapon was a .38 caliber gun. Investigators developed a theory of the crime. "The first gunshot would have stunned or knocked down Rhonda," stated Webb. Once they analyzed the church computer, detectives noticed that Smith logged on at 9:40 a.m. 10:58 a.m. She was discovered at 12:30 p.m. Troopers determined the homicide to have occurred at around 11 a.m. Investigators centered on Smith’s close circle, together with Pastor Shreaves. He’d been out of town at a conference for 3 days. Being away "ruled out the chance that he might have been involved," stated Webb, including that Shreaves knew his parishioners better than anyone. A one-time particular person of curiosity was a man who confirmed up at the church on a couple events. "He stated to one in every of our parishioners, ‘This could be a superb place to rob,’ so we had been just a little skeptical," mentioned Zellner.