Delaware News

Department of Justice Secures Indictment for murder of Marsha Lee

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, April 9, 2012



Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden announced that his office has secured an indictment for the murder of Marsha Lee, who was abducted and killed near her Wilmington home late last year.

 

“Today the New Castle County Grand Jury returned a 6-count indictment charging Dwight Smith with 1st Degree Murder and other offenses for the December 19, 2011 death of Marsha Lee,” Biden stated.  “The aggravating circumstances of this crime make this case eligible for the death penalty.  This case will proceed according to our established death penalty review procedures.”

 

On December 19, 2011, Mrs. Lee was reported missing after her dog returned without her from a morning walk in her neighborhood.  Witness told police they heard a woman screaming and saw the driver of a red Hummer SUV put something into the vehicle nearby.  Police identified articles of clothing left at that scene as belonging to Lee, whose body was found by investigators.  Later that day police in Wilmington stopped Smith, who was driving an SUV matching the vehicle’s description.  Smith was taken into custody and after further investigation was charged with the crime.

 

The New Castle County Grand Jury indicted Dwight Smith on the following charges:

 

·         Murder 1st Degree for the intentional murder of Marsha Lee

·         Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony related to the intentional murder

·         Murder 1st  Degree for the felony murder of Marsha Lee

·         Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony related to the felony murder

·         Kidnapping 1st Degree, for unlawfully restraining the victim to inflict physical injury or abuse the victim sexually

·         Rape 1st Degree, for intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse and causing physical injury to the victim

 

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

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Department of Justice Secures Indictment for murder of Marsha Lee

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, April 9, 2012



Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden announced that his office has secured an indictment for the murder of Marsha Lee, who was abducted and killed near her Wilmington home late last year.

 

“Today the New Castle County Grand Jury returned a 6-count indictment charging Dwight Smith with 1st Degree Murder and other offenses for the December 19, 2011 death of Marsha Lee,” Biden stated.  “The aggravating circumstances of this crime make this case eligible for the death penalty.  This case will proceed according to our established death penalty review procedures.”

 

On December 19, 2011, Mrs. Lee was reported missing after her dog returned without her from a morning walk in her neighborhood.  Witness told police they heard a woman screaming and saw the driver of a red Hummer SUV put something into the vehicle nearby.  Police identified articles of clothing left at that scene as belonging to Lee, whose body was found by investigators.  Later that day police in Wilmington stopped Smith, who was driving an SUV matching the vehicle’s description.  Smith was taken into custody and after further investigation was charged with the crime.

 

The New Castle County Grand Jury indicted Dwight Smith on the following charges:

 

·         Murder 1st Degree for the intentional murder of Marsha Lee

·         Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony related to the intentional murder

·         Murder 1st  Degree for the felony murder of Marsha Lee

·         Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony related to the felony murder

·         Kidnapping 1st Degree, for unlawfully restraining the victim to inflict physical injury or abuse the victim sexually

·         Rape 1st Degree, for intentionally engaging in sexual intercourse and causing physical injury to the victim

 

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

# # #

 

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.