A woman’s theft of a digital memory card from a truck has led to a shocking murder trial in Alaska. The gruesome footage found on the stolen card is now key evidence in the trial of Brian Steven Smith, a South Africa native accused of killing two Alaska Native women.
It all began when a woman with a history of criminal activity, including theft and assault, entered a truck with a man who had picked her up for a “date” near downtown Anchorage. Seizing an opportunity, she stole a digital memory card from the center console of the vehicle while the man momentarily left her alone. Little did she know that the content of that memory card would expose a series of heinous crimes.
More than four years after the theft, the woman turned the memory card over to the police. On it, they found disturbing photos and videos depicting the beating and strangulation of a woman at a Marriott hotel. The voice of the attacker, speaking in a strong accent, could be heard urging the victim to die. The footage showed the victim’s body being transported outside on a luggage cart, covered by a blanket.
Law enforcement quickly recognized the voice on the videos as that of Brian Steven Smith, a South Africa native they had previously encountered in a separate investigation. Smith, now 52 years old, has been charged with 14 offenses, including first- and second-degree murder, sexual assault, and tampering with evidence. The victims in this case are Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, who was reported missing by her family in February 2019.
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Both Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk were Alaska Native women who had experienced homelessness. Henry hailed from the village of Eek, while Abouchuk was from Stebbins. Their tragic deaths have left a lasting impact on their communities and highlighted the vulnerability faced by homeless individuals in Alaska.
Authorities believe that Kathleen Henry was the victim whose murder was captured on the memory card. Brian Steven Smith had been registered to stay at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in midtown Anchorage, where the crime took place. The footage on the memory card was time-stamped for the early hours of September 4, 2019. Smith’s phone records indicated that he was in the vicinity of Rainbow Valley Road, where Henry’s body was later discovered.
During questioning, Smith revealed to law enforcement that he had also killed another woman. He identified her as Veronica Abouchuk and provided the location of her remains along the Old Glenn Highway north of Anchorage. Alaska State Troopers had previously misidentified another body as Abouchuk’s, but with Smith’s information, investigators were able to confirm her identity using dental records.
Brian Steven Smith’s trial, expected to last three to four weeks, began with jury selection. Smith’s defense attorney sought to exclude the evidence from the digital memory card, arguing that its provenance could not be adequately established since it was stolen by the woman who turned it over to the police. However, the judge ruled that the woman could testify about her possession of the card until she handed it over to law enforcement, and the recordings could be properly authenticated.
The families of Kathleen Henry and Veronica Abouchuk have endured immense pain and loss throughout this ordeal. Their loved ones’ lives were tragically cut short, and the trial has brought back painful memories. The Alaska Native community has rallied in support of the victims’ families, highlighting the importance of treating these cases with dignity and respect.
