Murderer Smithson gets life without parole

A Delaware County jury deliberated less than an hour yesterday before recommending that William F. Smithson be sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Jason Shephard, a young coworker.

Smithson turned and hugged his attorney, Mary Beth Welch, as the jury foreman read the decision. Some of his family and friends let out a gasp of relief.

The body of Shephard, 23, an intern with South Dakota scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, was found in Smithson's basement in Thornbury Township on Sept. 21, 2006.

On Friday, Smithson, 43, was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, attempted rape, kidnapping, and drug and other charges.

Prosecutors said he drugged the young man from Cavalier, N.D., then strangled him after Shephard fought off his sexual advances.

"We are grateful that Jason was able to have a voice in this and that he was understood," said Karla Afshari, 30, the victim's sister, who read from a prepared statement after the sentence was announced. "And now we are able to focus on what he has done for our family and not how he died."

Prosecutor Thomas Lawrie called the murder a "vicious and premeditated" act.

"The jury had no difficulty in finding the defendant guilty of all charges," Lawrie said after the sentencing. "We feel the verdict was an accurate reflection of their outrage and disgust for what the defendant did to Jason Shephard."

Yesterday, during the sentencing phase of the trial, Smithson took the stand and told of his life, work history, and drug use.

Smithson said he grew up in Darby and attended Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School, Monsignor Bonner High School, and Delaware County Community College.

At about age 19, Smithson went to live with his grandmother after his grandfather took ill. He continued to live with her for about 11 years until she moved to a nursing home in 2000. Smithson said his drug use began after his grandmother's death.

In 2006, when police found Smithson after Shephard was reported missing, he was sitting at her gravesite.

"I didn't know I was gay," Smithson said yesterday. He told of his attraction to and relationships with women before realizing he was gay in his mid-30s.

Smithson said he met gay men on chat lines and often used drugs to enhance his sexual pleasure. He said he sometimes traveled to meet "D.C. lobbyists" or "New York City doctors" to inject crystal methamphetamine.

Smithson said he would often stay up for six days in a row before he crashed, then lay off the drugs for a week and begin the cycle again.

"My body would want it again, crave it," he said.

A forensic psychologist testified that Smithson had a mixed personality disorder and a dependence on drugs, and that he abused alcohol.

Earlier, friends and family painted a complex picture of Smithson as a good son, brother and friend who was devoted to his grandmother, but in denial about his sexuality and his drug problems.

They said that in the two years before the murder, Smithson had become somewhat distant and had begun losing weight. Since his arrest and during his continuing incarceration, they said, Smithson no longer seemed distant.

"He just seems very clear, concise, and the person I have known all my life," said James Smithson Jr., his brother.

Smithson will be back in court on Jan. 30 for formal sentencing.