On January 23, 2008, BloodVitals SPO2 Rhonda Smith was found face down in an workplace at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield Township, Pennsylvania. Watch Philly Homicide On Saturdays on Oxygen and Peacock. Smith, BloodVitals SPO2 42, BloodVitals SPO2 had been shot twice. Judy Zellner, an in depth 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, airing Saturdays at 9/8c p.m. "She’s dead," Zellner told the dispatcher. "There’s blood all over her head and around her head." But when paramedics arrived, they'd discovered that Smith was still clinging to life, and she was rushed to the hospital. Who was Rhonda Smith? Investigators learned that Smith had been a member of the church for two years. The pastor BloodVitals SPO2 and congregation had embraced her, and BloodVitals SPO2 she’d not too long ago taken a component-time job there. "She couldn't handle a full-time job at the church," stated Zellner.
Smith's mental health impacted her career. "Rhonda had a passion for educating. She had a ardour for children," Deanna Durante, a reporter for BloodVitals SPO2 Philadelphia-based WCAU, said on Philly Homicide. Smith pursued teaching in college. "But bipolar received to her proper on the final semester, and she never graduated," said Zellner. Smith yearned for independence and moved into her personal house. Money was tight. She shared with church pastor BloodVitals SPO2 Greg Shreaves that she was having bother paying her payments. The pastor BloodVitals SPO2 rallied members of the congregation to assist. "Some of us gave her cash and some present cards, and so they put it in a Christmas card," said Zellner. "Three days earlier than Rhonda Smith was found, she stood in front of her congregation and thanked them for all of the assistance that they had given her," mentioned Durante. Pennsylvania State Troopers processed the scene. They collected bullet fragments that might help determine the form of gun the shooter used.
"The police additionally took possession of the workplace laptop for an expert to do a forensic evaluation," said 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 at the scene, which led to extra questions. "Detectives requested me, did I kick a gun, did I see a gun, did I disguise a gun? Several hours after the capturing, Smith’s parents made the tough determination to finish life help. "We circled round her, holding palms," Zellner advised Philly Homicide. What have been the results of Rhonda Smith's autopsy? Smith had been shot twice. "One was a glancing wound to her head, and BloodVitals SPO2 the other one had penetrated her skull," said 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 evidence ruled out suicide and Smith's demise was categorized as a homicide. From the bullet fragments, investigators decided that the homicide weapon was a .38 caliber gun. Investigators developed a idea of the crime. "The first gunshot would have stunned or knocked down Rhonda," stated Webb. After they analyzed the church laptop, detectives saw that Smith logged on at 9:Forty a.m. 10:Fifty eight a.m. She was discovered at 12:30 p.m. Troopers determined the murder to have occurred at around 11 a.m. Investigators focused on Smith’s close circle, including Pastor Shreaves. He’d been out of city at a conference for three days. Being away "ruled out the chance that he could have been concerned," stated Webb, adding that Shreaves knew his parishioners higher than anyone. A one-time person of curiosity was a man who showed up on the church on a couple occasions. "He mentioned to one among our parishioners, BloodVitals SPO2 ‘This could be a good place to rob,’ so we were a little skeptical," said Zellner.