South African Immigrant Sentenced to 226 Years for Brutal Murders of Alaska Native Women

Image Source: Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby handed down sentencing in the case against Brian Steven Smith earlier this month. Photo: X/@EagleFMNam

Published by Everything ZA News

Anchorage, Alaska – A South African immigrant was sentenced to 226 years in prison on Friday for the horrific murders of two Alaska Native women. Brian Steven Smith, 53, originally from Queenstown, South Africa, received consecutive 99-year terms for the first-degree murders of Kathleen Jo Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, 52. An additional 28 years were added for related charges of sexual assault and tampering with evidence.

The murders, which occurred in 2019, shocked the community and the nation. Smith tortured and killed Henry in a hotel room, a crime captured on video that was later discovered by authorities. The footage, marked by its brutality, was instrumental in identifying Smith through his distinctive South African accent.

Abouchuk’s body was found in a wooded area north of Anchorage, and Smith admitted to killing her. The judge described the crimes as “the stuff of nightmares” and emphasized the inhumanity inflicted on the victims.

Smith became a naturalized U.S. citizen shortly before the murder of Henry, adding a layer of complexity to the case. The sentencing brings a measure of closure to the families of the victims, but it does little to erase the trauma inflicted by these heinous crimes.