Friends, Family Say Murder Suspect Was Troubled
Several who knew Crabtree resident Jason Smith, who is accused of murdering a Philadelphia doctor, say he had temper issues in his past.
The modest Levittown house where murder suspect Jason Smith lived.
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Prior to his arrest on charges of murder last week, Levittown pest exterminator Jason Smith had a relatively clean criminal record. However, several people close to the 36-year-old father said he had a somewhat troubled past.
A former friend of Smith’s who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Patch that the Crabtree section resident could have a temper, but murder was not something he felt his old friend was capable of.
Smith's fiance, who shared the two-story Crabtree section house with him, her young daughter and other family members, told 6abc the whole family is upset and knew nothing about the her partner of six year's alleged crime until authorities took him away and shot the family dog Wednesday night.
On the WebSlueths.com message board, a user who identified herself as the ex-wife of Smith’s brother wrote a post on her reaction to the arrest of her ex-brother-in-law. The website is a true-crime discussion website.
“To be honest, as shocked as I am, I am not surprised. He has had issues for many years,” the poster wrote. “I also would not be surprised if he becomes a real suspect in other crimes.”
According 6abc.com, a friend of the suspect said Smith was fond of setting things on fire. The former friend Patch spoke with confirmed the contents of the 6abc report but failed to elaborate on specifics.
A source close to Smith’s family said the suspect had lost his temper in the past and has a juvenile record. The court records from Smith’s youth are sealed.
In a phone interview with NBC 10 reporter Deanna Durante, Smith’s cousin, George, said the 36-year-old suffers from “mental issues and substance abuse issues.”
Smith’s next-door Crescent Lane neighbor said the suspect was a always helpful and a "nice guy."
Angie’s List reviews of the Newtown pest control company that Smith subcontracted for even featured glowing reviews of an employee named Jason. It has not been confirmed if the reviews are referring to Jason Smith.
“If I ever need an exterminator again, I know exactly who I will be calling!” one Angie’s List review discovered by PhillyMag.com said of Jason.
Smith, according to media reports, confessed to brutally murdering and then burning the hogtied body of 35-year-old Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia doctor Melissa Ketunuti shortly after being taken into custody in Bristol Township on Wednesday. Philadelphia police said the incident started when an argument between the doctor and exterminator went “terribly wrong.”
"People like Mr. Smith basically walk around with a huge chip on their shoulders, and they feel so inadequate and insecure that at any perceived belittlement of them will set them off," former FBI Special Agent Brad Garrett said on ABC’s Good Morning America.
Questions on what the fatal argument was about still linger and police have not yet released those details.
Smith was arraigned late Thursday and is being held without bail on charges of murder, arson, abuse of a corpse and risking a catastrophe.
The same evening that Smith was arraigned in Philadelphia, friends and collugues of the victim gathered near her home to hold a vigil and share their memories.
"Melissa was a source of joy to everyone in her life. Her passing has left an enormous gap in our lives, and the family requests privacy to mourn during this difficult time," read a statement released Friday by the young doctor's family.
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joe
1:38 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
What a waste of life he is. His father should have went to the movies that night.
Capt. Obvious
2:43 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
am I the only one who thinks there's way more to this story then they give us right now? Look at the extremes. hogtied and set on fire. That's rage, not pissed off at a remark she made. There's more to this then him getting angry over her not liking an estimate or a job he did killing mice or bugs. If I were the cops, I'd be looking at a narcotics angle, and checking what she's written for in the last year.
concerned citizen
3:37 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
He needs to be charged for the dogs deAth as well! If it wasnt for this murderous rT dropping then the doggy would still be here. They need to inject bug apray into his reAr end then tie him up and give him the same treatment. I doubt he was a first tiime killer be ause the way he acted that sounds like a planned stalking and murder! Shove that mental illness bs! Anyone who had the time and planning to do that crime is not crazy. He drove to center city and even parked his truck there without getting tickets. He then went to nj and did another job and had went home like nothing happened! ThT is not me tal illness but someone who knew what he was doing!
Robert88
7:36 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
I can't believe the Homicide Task Force shot and killed the dog. What's the reason for that? What about the kid who were playing with the dog? How are you going to explain to the kid about what's happened to the dog? That's cruel thing to do to the dog and don't take it out on a dog because he has nothing with the doctor's murder. They should leave it up to animal control officer who's better trained for this situation.
Donna Toner
5:19 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Agree, I have family in law enforcement and fight all the time @ this. The police should have a Tranqulizer Gun or Taser, then the defenseless animals will not be killed. This really upset me,at least the killer is behind bars.
michelle moore
8:37 pm on Sunday, January 27, 2013
As sad as it may seem, if you are going into someone's house to arrest someone and a dog tries to attack you, of course you are going to shoot it. I'm sure that is what happened. The police aren't just going to shoot a dog. And you're going to take the time out to call Animal Control? So before you go defending the dog, make sure you know what you are talking about. I'm sure it was a Pit or something like that.
Donna Toner
5:16 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
You obviously do not like dogs. Please do not make blanket statements about Pit and Pit Mix breeds. Many,Many people have them, including the Dr. who Jason Smith killed. You are mean to say this, and I think police are out of line when they kill defenseless animals. They should have a Tranqulizer gun, or Taser, this would not hurt innocent people, or children, I feel bad for the rest of his family,to see this violence that should not have happened.
,
JT
10:08 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
i doubt this wass his first murder. think about the way it was done! hogtied, lit on fire - must have taken a long time and i think he gets off on that type of torture. may be there are others. i heard the philly cops were looking into other crimes he may have committed.
Rachel
12:56 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Why does it have to be soo much more then just a sicko killed an innocent women. Regardless of any other details, it is just that! A sicko killed an innocent person. It's sad and my prayers go out to the family. For all the people who want more and more juicy details, get a life..a person died here and she had family and friends who are morning and you are only worried about what the victim wrote in past posts to try to create a link between a sick weirdo and an innocent women ?? Get a life and put yourself in her family's and friends shoes, and see how you would like it.. Wanna be detectives and crime buffs just can't wrap their heads around that maybe something as simple as a sicko snapped , and a women died .
chocolate thunda
2:26 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
maybe in the future when the police decide to show up at someone's house they should have an animal control officer arrive with them. I don't agree with the dog being killed at all. was it barking at them like normal dogs do when people show up at the house or was it literally attacking them. Don't think we will ever know exactly what happened. these days people pull the "insanity" card to make an excuse for committing a crime of this nature. It's bull and a cowardly attempt to receive a lighter sentence. He gruesomely murdered someone and that's that
Donna Toner
5:03 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
The police should take a taser or tranquilzer for what they deem aggresssive animals. I am sadded and disgusted they killed the defenseless animal. Happy the killer is behind bars, I do not agree with the way police handle certain situations, sad that the family and children had to witness this violence.So polie if you are listening tranqulize or taser, I do not believe the dog attacked, I walk dogs and know this not to be true.
Donna Toner
5:12 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
@Michelle Moore I think it is ignorant of you to insinuate that if it is a Pit or type of breed that has Pit mx it is okay to kill the dog? Really? Did you know that the murdered Dr. also had a Pit mix? You are mean and obviosly do not like animals, so please stop making comments that are not true abot Pit breeds, many,many people have them.