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S3 Eps 12: True Crime Edition: The Ryan Smith Case
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In this gripping true crime edition of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden are joined by criminal law expert Anthony Osso to dissect one of the most disturbing cases Houston has seen in years—the murder of Cameron Smith by his own son, Ryan Mitchell Smith. From a shocking crime spree to an insanity defense, the episode unpacks the legal twists, mental health implications, and courtroom drama surrounding this tragic and violent case.
Was justice served? Could this crime have been prevented? And what happens when someone who stabs a police dog gets released—only to escalate to murder?
Show Highlights:
- 00:01:00 – Introduction of guest expert Anthony Osso
- 00:02:22 – Breakdown of the timeline leading up to the murder
- 00:03:45 – Dog stabbing and legal implications for harming police K-9s
- 00:04:52 – Bail, bonding out, and the magistrate process explained
- 00:06:13 – Ryan Smith evades police twice, raising questions about public safety
- 00:07:02 – Discovery of the body and the brutal method of murder
- 00:08:30 – Discussion on whether bond was appropriate given the charges
- 00:09:12 – Legal explanation of entitlement to bail under Texas law
- 00:10:55 – Insanity as a legal defense: what qualifies, and why it’s rarely successful
- 00:12:23 – Signs of premeditation and efforts to cover up the crime
- 00:13:02 – Lack of motive and its role in jury deliberation
- 00:14:01 – The deer meat ruse and how it factored into proving premeditation
- 00:15:03 – How Ryan fled to Bellville and how police eventually caught him
- 00:16:16 – Choosing between insanity and alternative defenses
- 00:17:12 – Expert testimony on drug-induced insanity
- 00:18:18 – Why the case wasn’t streamed, but could have been
- 00:19:22 – Competency vs. insanity: legal distinctions explained
- 00:21:16 – Prosecutor strategy and potential use of the injured police dog in sentencing
- 00:22:20 – Life sentence in Texas and parole eligibility
- 00:24:01 – Prison logistics: what life behind bars looks like in Texas
- 00:25:17 – Forensic details: dumbbell as murder weapon, cause of death
- 00:26:26 – Prosecutors Kim and Lindsey praised for navigating an emotional trial
- 00:28:25 – Possible appeal issues: suppressed evidence, insanity plea, ineffective counsel
- 00:29:34 – Appeal process and what happens to Smith during it
Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream—and don’t forget to like and subscribe.
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