Anchorage Jury Finds Brian Steven Smith Guilty of Murdering Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk: Sentenced to 99 Years

Anchorage Jury Finds Brian Steven Smith Guilty of Murder and Sexual Assault

(Anchorage, AK) – In a shocking turn of events, Brian Steven Smith, 53, was found guilty by an Anchorage Jury on Thursday of fourteen counts, including two counts of Murder in the First Degree for the brutal killings of Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk. The jury also convicted him of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, Tampering with Evidence, and Misconduct Involving a Corpse.

The investigation into Smith’s crimes began when homicide detectives from the Anchorage Police Department were alerted to a murder after a woman shared disturbing video footage from Smith’s phone. The footage, along with photos found on the device, revealed the horrific torture and murder of the then-unknown woman, whose identity was later confirmed to be Kathleen Jo Henry. During questioning, Smith also confessed to the killing of a second victim, Veronica Abouchuk.

Smith’s detailed confession to investigators, along with videos depicting the murders of both Henry and Abouchuk, played a crucial role in the trial. The jury was presented with compelling evidence that left no doubt about Smith’s guilt in these heinous crimes.

Following the verdicts, the jury also determined that Smith had subjected Kathleen Jo Henry to substantial physical torture, an aggravating factor that will result in a mandatory 99-year sentence for her murder. For the murder of Veronica Abouchuk, Smith faces a sentence ranging from 30 to 99 years. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 12 and July 19, 2024.

The prosecution team, led by Anchorage District Attorney Brittany Dunlop and Deputy District Attorney Heather Nobrega, successfully presented a compelling case against Smith before District Court Judge Kevin Saxby.

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