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The 1990 murder of Gregg Smart shocked the country, not only in its brutality but with unnerving details that would come to light during an investigation and trial. While most people call it the "Pamela Smart case," forgetting Gregg—who, after all, was the last victim in this story.
The latest episode of ABC's 20/20, "Broken Vows," revisits the controversial case of Pamela Smart with a new interview featuring anchor Juju Chang. Aired on, August 16, 2024, at 9 pm ET, the episode took a closer look into the claims of innocence put forth by Smart herself from behind bars.
The 20/20 episode featured an interview with Smart, in which she reflected on her highly publicized trial and the intense media spotlight that accompanied it. Here are five chilling details about the murder that continue to haunt those who followed the case.
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5 unforgettable details of Gregg Smart's murder
1) The murder was calculatedly cold
On the evening of May 1, 1990, Gregg Smart was attacked in his condominium in Derry, New Hampshire. He met two teen intruders: Billy Flynn and Patrick "Pete" Randall. Flynn and Randall incapacitated Gregg, down to his knees, before Flynn pulled the trigger and fired a .38-caliber into Gregg's skull.
The murder staged to appear like a bungled burglary, was anything but random. According to multiple sources, police received an anonymous tip that Pamela Smart had been involved in her husband’s death.
2) The perpetrators were teenagers
Probably one of the most disturbing things about the murder of Gregg Smart was the age of the attackers. The shooter, Billy Flynn, was only 16 years old, and his partner in this crime, Patrick Randall, was just a year older at 17.
They were hardly career criminals but school kids, who were allegedly manipulated for committing murder. Their youth, coupled with that of Pamela, who was in her early twenties at that time, lent a deeply jarring layer to the crime.
3) The motive was deeply self-serving
The motive behind Gregg Smart's murder was shockingly selfish. According to the prosecution, Pamela Smart wanted out of her marriage and saw murder as a means to get what she wanted. She was unhappy in her less-than-year-old marriage to Gregg.
Reportedly, she planned to collect a $140,000 life insurance policy he had taken out at work, in addition to being able to keep their dog's ownership.
4) The trial was a media sensation
The murder trial of Pamela Smart became one of the first to be televised live, so it simply became a media circus. Tagged as the "Trial of the Century" long before the O.J. Simpson case, it gripped the nation with lurid details and dramatic scenes from the courtroom.
The case drew significant media attention, particularly due to the accusations against a young woman enlisting the help of teenage boys to commit murder. The focus on the sensational aspect of the situation overshadowed discussions surrounding the actual victim, Gregg Smart, and rather focused on Pamela.
5) Pamela Smart's continued protests of innocence
Pamela Smart, even after being convicted, still claimed she was innocent. She did admit to having the affair with Billy Flynn, admitting that was a huge mistake, but she further claimed she never asked them to kill Gregg. She said it was Flynn who decided on his own to kill Gregg when she broke up with him.
This claim has been met with a lot of skepticism in light of the testimony and evidence given during the trial. What makes this case even more chilling is the fact that those teenagers who committed this heinous murder were out of prison on parole. While Pamela is still serving her sentence and to this day continues to protest her involvement.
The murder of Gregg Smart is one of the most bone-chilling and unforgettable cases in the annals of American criminal history. From the cold calculation of the murder to the involvement of teenagers and its resultant sensational trial, the details go on to captivate and horrify those who learn about it.
