Katrina Smith, 30 MISSING October 23, 2012/UPDATE: 11/10/12:LE confirmed body found in River is Katrina Smith, /Update: 11.24.12 Katrina's husband Todd C. Smith 45 charged with 4 cts of first degree homicide

Katrina Smith: Bloody towels found during search for Machesney Park woman

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police stated not only had a woman’s purse and cell phone been found in the same area as a woman's abandoned car, but also some towels with a substance they believe to be blood was found during a search on Thursday.

Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro said it was volunteers who found bloody paper towels in the vicinity of the vehicle. Authorities are waiting lab results to determine if the blood belonged to Smith reports the Rockford Register Star.

Katrina A. Smith, 30, from Machesney Park, Ill. was reported missing by her husband on Tuesday, October 23. Her car was located later that evening, unoccupied, at the intersection of Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park.

Smith, who worked in the human resources department at Camryn Company in Belvidere, went shopping Monday night, and then was reportedly last seen that night by her husband when she left their home to run an additional errand around 9 p.m.

Her blue 2012 Chevrolet Cruze four-door was seen by neighbors during the day, and then was located later that evening, unoccupied, at the intersection of Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park.

The sheriff's department says Smith was reportedly last seen by her husband late Monday night when she left to run an errand. It is currently unknown whether Smith left on her own or is the victim of foul play.

Anyone with information on Smith's whereabouts is asked to call the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department at 815-319-6400 or CrimeStoppers at 815-963-7867.

Was Katrina Smith Murdered?

Disturbing details in the Katrina Smith investigation indicate that the missing woman may have injured herself—or worse. It's been revealed that bloody paper towels were located by police in the vicinity of the missing woman's abandoned car. They are currently being tested to determine whether or not the blood belongs to the missing Illinois woman. Considering the fact that it's been nearly a week since the woman was last seen, these details and the evidence thus far is highly suspicious.

Is it possible that Katrina Smith met foul play? As stated in this earlier Gather News article, the discovery of her cellphone, purse and abandoned vehicle are already negative elements. These details indicate that the woman certainly isn't existing as herself if she is alive. The possibility of a woman voluntarily disappearing like this is slim, and the discovery of bloody paper towels doesn't help the theory at all.

Whatever it was that happened, hopefully some answers are had soon. It must be hard for loved ones to be going through this right now without any answers, and everywhere they turn the news is negative.

Searches are continuing for Katrina, and the areas the officials are looking at indicate that even they aren't confident that she will be found alive. Most currently bodies of water are being searched.
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Posted: Thu 11:28 PM, Oct 25, 2012A A Reporter: Whitney Martin Email
Updated: Fri 5:50 PM, Oct 26, 2012Back to HomePage
UPDATE: Search Continues for Katrina Smith

Update: Search Party Looks for Katrina Smith
Search Continues for Katrina Smith
UPDATE: During the search conducted by family and friends on October 26, papers towels were recovered with a substance believed to be blood on them. These items were recovered in a field between Obispo and Ralston Rd.

UPDATE: A purse belonging to the Machesney Park woman who vanished earlier this week, was found near her abandoned car. A search party is now looking for more clues at a Schoonmaker Park.

Miraynda Castro is helping lead a search party, filled with faces she's never seen. Dozens of people have come to Schoonmaker Park to help find her sister whose been missing for four days.

“If you have a sister, you have this bond that you can't explain and I guess I just really miss her and I can't accept she's not here, I just want her back,” said Castro.

More than two dozen people are searching the area off Ralston Road, where 30 year-old Katrina Smith's car was found abandoned Tuesday night. Her purse and cell-phone were located days later in a wooded area nearby. Detectives say she was last seen leaving her husband's home, after shopping on 173 at about 9 p.m. Monday.

"Every time a detective calls or we hear something we hold our breath,” said Katrina’s sister.

Search crews found a pair of sun glasses in the woods, although the family doesn't know if the item and others belong to Smith. Police taped off nearly every area where something was found by volunteers.

"You want to find something to help find her."

Crews are spreading out and walking in lines to make sure they don't miss anything. Detectives say every piece of evidence could help find Katrina Smith.

Detectives say Smith and her husband don't live together. He's in Machesney park and she had been living at a home in Roscoe. She works in human resources at Camryn Company in Belvidere. The family knew something was wrong when she didn't show up to work.

Anyone with information on Smith's disappearance is asked to call the Winnebago County Sheriff's police Detective Bureau (815-319-6400) or CrimeStoppers (815-963-7867.

MACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) -- It's been three days since anyone has seen Katrina Smith. And Thursday night friends, family, and even strangers braved the elements to look for her.

About a dozen people gathered just before sunset to hand out flyers in the strip mall where Katrina Smith went shopping Monday night before she vanished.Then they set off to search nearby woods. They are trying to plan a more formal search party for Friday.

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- Local law enforcement is still looking for anyone who might have information on a missing Machesney Park woman.

30-year-old Katrina Smith hasn't been seen since late Monday night. Her husband reported her missing on Tuesday, the same night her car was found abandoned in Machesney Park.

Deputies are looking into whether Katrina may have left on her own or if someone hurt her. Her picture is on our Facebook page if you'd like to share it.

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Posted: Sat 10:28 PM, Oct 27, 2012A A

River Search for Missing Machesney Park Woman

MACHESNEY PARK (WIFR) -- It's been five days since Katrina Smith was last seen. She went out shopping late Monday night and never returned home. Family members and police have been searching for her over the last few days and today they turned their search to the Rock River.

More than a dozen local fire departments were called to the area of Ventura Boulevard near Schoonmaker Park in Machesney Park. Boats with new sonar equipment were sent out looking for Smith.

Some of her belongings, including her car, cell phone and purse, were found in the area earlier this week. About 150 local volunteers were out searching at 10 a.m.

"Just trying to help the family in the efforts to just find is there anything out here that would help lead us to Katrina," said search volunteer Creig Day.

The search ended around 5:30 this evening. It's unclear whether or not crews will be back out searching tomorrow. If they are we'll have the details tomorrow night on the update at ten.

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MACHESNEY PARK — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office did not locate anything Saturday while combing the Rock River in search of a missing Machesney Park woman. Detectives were not actively searching Sunday.

Katrina Smith, 30, was last seen about 9 p.m. Oct. 22 by her husband when she left their Tetterhall Lane home to run an errand. He reported her missing Oct. 23 to the Roscoe Police Department.

Officials have not determined if her disappearance involved foul play. They found her purse, blue 2012 four-door Chevrolet Cruze and cell phone near Schoonmaker Park in Machesney Park.

Dozens of residents have joined in the search for Smith. They have walked along Schoonmaker Park and reached out on Facebook.

The Sheriff’s Department urges anyone with information to call 815-319-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 815-963-7867.

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Posted: Oct 29, 2012 7:09 PM CDT
By Rebecca Klopf - bio | email

WINNEBAGO COUNTY (WREX) -
Disturbing information is uncovered about the husband of a missing Machesney Park woman. Court records show he burned down his family's home two decades ago while they were inside it.

Todd C. Smith is the husband to Katrina Smith. She was last seen October 22, 2012 when she stopped by her house in Machesney Park. According to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department she had been living in separate residence in Roscoe. Todd Smith reported to police she left around 9 p.m. and that was the last time he saw her. He reported her missing the next day.

In 1985 Todd Smith, who used to go by the name Todd Raprager was convicted of arson. Court records show he set fire to the house with his parents and brother in it. The home was destroyed. No one was hurt in the fire.

Todd Smith who was 17 at the time was sentenced to 30 months probation and required to get a voluntary drug evaluation.

Now more than 25 years later the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department cannot say if they have any persons of interest in Katrina Smith's disappearance.

"I can never speak to a suspect. I can tell you that every lead that comes to our attention is being investigated but I can never speak publicly about any suspect or any aspect of our criminal investigation that is being conducted," says Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro.

Last week, Katrina Smith's car, cell phone and purse were all found in Machesney Park. Her wallet, which wasn't in the purse, was found in Rockford.

"Our main focus is to try to locate Mrs. Smith. We are hoping that she is still alive. We are working on the assumption, we are working under both assumptions. We have to follow up every single lead that comes to us whether it looks like she may be alive or not alive," says Deputy Chief Iasparro.

The focus of Katrina Smith's family, friends and community members is also to find her. Search groups have been walking the area near where her car was found since Friday. They do not plan to quit until they find her.

"We are expanding the circle of how far out we look but we are still looking for anything that could provide a clue with regards to where she is at," says Craig Day, friend of Katrina Smith's and volunteer searcher.

You can follow the search efforts or join in by logging onto the Facebook page FindKatrinaSmith.

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The search continues for Katrina A. Smith, 30, of Machesney Park, Ill., who has been missing since Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28, an extensive search of the Rock River was conducted by the Harlem-Roscoe Fire Department and multiple assisting fire departments, including Rockford Fire Department and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The river search was conducted from south of the Latham Road Bridge. Nothing was recovered during the search.

Thursday, Oct. 25, Smith’s wallet was turned over to the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. The wallet had been recovered by a citizen in the roadway of a Rockford street and turned in to a business as found property. Once it was determined the wallet was Smith’s, the business called the Rockford Police Department, which contacted the Sheriff’s Department.

At this point, it is unknown if anything is missing from the wallet.

Smith was reported missing Tuesday, Oct. 23, by her husband. She was last seen at around 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22, leaving her Machesney Park residence to run an errand.

Smith’s vehicle was found abandoned at Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park at approximately 7:50 p.m., Oct. 23. Neighbors reported seeing the vehicle parked at that location earlier in the day, unoccupied.

Smith’s purse was recovered Wednesday, Oct. 24, a short distance from where the vehicle was located. During a search conducted by family and friends Oct. 26, paper towels were recovered with a substance believed to be blood on them. These items were recovered in a field between Obispo and Ralston Road. Tests will need to be conducted to determine whether the blood belongs to Smith. Her cell phone was recovered in the 700 block of Ralston Thursday, Oct. 25.

Smith worked in the Human Resources Department at Camryn Company in Belvidere, Ill. She is married and her residence is on Tetterhall Lane in Machesney Park. However, she has recently been staying in Roscoe, Ill., and is reportedly separated from her husband. She has no children, but does have family in the area.

Detectives have been able to determine Smith was shopping Monday night, Oct. 22, between 7 and 8 p.m. at department stores in the area of North Second Street and Illinois Route 173 in Machesney Park. She then reportedly returned to her residence in Machesney Park, and left around 9 p.m. to run additional errands.

Search parties continue to look for Smith, and detectives continue to follow up on leads. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at (815) 319-6400 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 963-7867.

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By Jeff Kolkey
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Oct 30, 2012 @ 11:32 AM
Last update Oct 30, 2012 @ 01:28 PM

MACHESNEY PARK — Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police investigators are executing a search warrant at the Smith residence on Tetterhall Lane in hopes of uncovering evidence about the whereabouts of a 30-year-old Machesney Park woman missing for more than a week.

Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro said police have not obtained an arrest warrant and could not say what detectives are looking for in the home. Police began the search mid-morning of the residence Katrina Smith shared with her husband, Todd Smith, 45.

“I cant go into specifics,” Iasparro said about the search. “It’s a further step into the investigation of her disappearance.”

Smith reported his wife missing Oct. 23, a day after she was last seen leaving their Tetterhall Lane home to go on an errand. The initial report was placed with the Roscoe Police Department because she had been staying there at a friend’s condominium.

She did not show up for work that day at Camryn Company in Belvidere where she worked in the human resources department.

Daily search parties of family, friends and volunteers have continued to comb the area for any sign of Smith or her belongings. Donations of food, supplies and labor have been offered to search organizers who are spreading the word of their effort through social media.

Katrina Smith’s abandoned vehicle was found in the area of Obispo Road and Ventura Boulevard in Machesney Park on Oct. 23, and her purse was discovered nearby on Wednesday. The woman’s cell phone was located Thursday and bloody paper towels — that may or may not be connected to her disappearance — were located Friday in the area of Obispo and Ralston roads.

Although family members have said she was in Roscoe “house sitting,” Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police investigators believe Smith was separated from her husband. Smith has expressed concern for his wife and has participated in the search for her.

Although Todd Smith has no known recent criminal convictions, he was sentenced to 30 months probation for setting his family’s Machesney Park home on fire in 1985 when he was 17 years old. He also operated a retirement planning business that was being scrutinized by Illinois authorities over allegations of fraud.

The Sheriff’s Department urges anyone with information to call police 815-319-6300 or CrimeStoppers at 815-963-7867.

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Police Take To The Air In Search Of Katrina Smith

By: Robert Burke
Updated: October 30, 2012

Rockford Police combed the Rock River today looking for clues into the disappearance of Katrina Smith. Around noon police were up in their helicopter, AIR ONE, starting their search near the dam in downtown Rockford. After hours in the air, flying north along the river, police were unable to uncover any new evidence.

Also, today members of the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at 8329 Tetterhall Lane in Machesney Park in reference to the missing person investigation of Katrina Smith.

The residence is the home of Todd and Katrina Smith. The search warrant was signed by a Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit after review with the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office.

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Although family members have said she was in Roscoe “house sitting,” Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police investigators believe Smith was separated from her husband. Smith has expressed concern for his wife and has participated in the search for her.

Although Todd Smith has no known recent criminal convictions, he was sentenced to 30 months probation for setting his family’s Machesney Park home on fire in 1985 when he was 17 years old. He also operated a retirement planning business that was being scrutinized by Illinois authorities over allegations of fraud.

Hmmm....definitely a Person of Interest...

Posted: Oct 30, 2012 5:28 PM CDT
Updated: Oct 30, 2012 10:32 PM CDT
By Rebecca Klopf - bio | email
By Kelsie Passolt - bio | email

MACHESNEY PARK (WREX) -
A Machesney Park woman has been missing for more than a week. Winnebago County Sheriff's Police are working to find Katrina Smith, alongside volunteers and family members.

Most search groups have been checking out Schoonmaker Park since Friday, that's near where Smith's car was found last Tuesday, the day she was reported missing. Her step-brother Chad Kaltved started looking before that.

"I've been searching since Thursday morning when I flew in from O'Hare [Airport]." -explains Kaltved.

Kaltved serves with the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command. He was training in Oklahoma when he got the news that Katrina was missing. Kaltved's been calling on those military skills.

"It's helpful in a lot ways. I can look at it tactically and look at an area and understand ins and outs, likely avenues of approach and boundaries. On the outside I can kind of hold everything inside and stay strong for the family, be the leader of the family, and be able to drive on and stay motivated everyday."

Kaltved says he doesn't believe Katrina ran away. According to him, she was supposed to be interviewed for a new job the day she was reported missing.

Investigators obtained a search warrant to check Katrina and her husband Todd's Machesney Park home on Tetterhall Lane. Records show Todd Smith was convicted of arson in 1985 when he went by the name Todd Raprager. Kaltved does not believe Todd Smith is behind his sister's disappearance.

"I've been asked several times about speculation, obviously there's an investigation going on, but I am going to back him and the family up 100% until something's proven otherwise." -he adds.

Kaltved says his commander told him to stay in the area as long as he needs to, he'll continue searching until he and the rest of the family get closure.

Investigators have not said why they searched Katrina and Todd Smith's house or if they found anything from that search.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earlier we reported...

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department focuses their efforts to find a missing Machesney Park woman on her home.

The last place Katrina Smith was seen was leaving her home on Tetterhall Lane around 9:00 p.m. on Monday, October 22. Now, police are hoping to find more clues on where she went from that house.

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Department spent the morning of October 30 at Katrina and Todd Smith's home. Investigators would not say what they were looking for, or what probably cause they had to search the home. However, they have always called the evidence found in connection to Katrina Smith's disappearance very suspicious.

Her car, cell phone, and purse were found in Machesney Park last week. Her wallet was also found, but in Rockford. Investigators were looking for clues in Loves Park on Tuesday afternoon.

"We are trying to be as thorough as we can and cover as much area as possible," Winnebago County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro said. "We just don't know where she is at and we wish we could narrow down a particular location or a small area where we could direct the searchers to, but we just don't have that. So we are trying to cover as much of the area based on information that we receive on-going as we possibly can, but at this point we have not been able to come up with her."

Volunteer groups have not stopped their efforts to find Katrina Smith. They were back out searching again Tuesday. More information on the volunteer search effort can be found on the FindKatrinaSmith page on Facebook.

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video at above link.

The brother of a missing Machesney Park woman says he will not give up until Katrina Smith is found.

After a nearly two week search, friends and family members are back on the hunt once again. Volunteers are walking in groups through Camp Winnebago. Smith's brother said the search party will start working its way through other parks in the Stateline. You may remember Smith's car and purse were found last month in Machesney Park. Her wallet was picked up in Rockford. Family members said they are trying not to lose hope.

" As long as people are here and wanting to look for Katrina, this is what we are going to do,” said Katrina Smith’s brother Chad Kaltved. “We will not put an end to this. We will continue to search until no one comes, and then it still might be us."

We know so many of you are invested in this case.. we will continue to bring you the latest information as it becomes available.
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Katrina Smith Remains Missing

November 05, 2012 04:20 PM EST

Missing woman Katrina Smith still hasn't been found as her disappearance turns two-weeks-old. The 30-year-old woman, last seen by her husband, hasn't been in contact with her family either -- which has them worried for her. It doesn't help that her car and other items, including purse and phone, have been discovered -- but she remains missing.

In the latest update to this missing woman's case, it's being reported that a benefit dinner will be held to raise money for her search. Family members of Katrina Smith will be hosting the dinner at Casey's Pub in Macheseney Park -- pizza and pasta from Napoli's will be served at $10.00 a person. These funds will be used to further the search for the missing woman while spreading awareness about her disappearance.

As for the investigation behind her disappearance -- there are no updates. It doesn't seem that investigators have a clue about what may have happened to Katrina, but it's been revealed that her husband has a less than stellar past; who doesn't? Hopefully he doesn't know anything more than what he has told officials.

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Posted: Fri 4:51 PM, Nov 09, 2012A A Reporter: Whitney Martin Email
Updated: Sat 3:01 PM, Nov 10, 2012Back to News

UPDATE: BYRON (WIFR) -- After a woman's body is found in the Rock River, detectives say it could take more than a day to identify the woman.

They tell us an off-duty firefighter spotted the body at around 1:00 p.m. today.

Right now, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department is stepping in to Ogle County's territory, because Katrina Smith is actively missing.

Investigators want to make sure, if the unidentified woman ends up being Smith, that they are a part of the investigation from the beginning.

To be clear, investigators have not identified the body at this time.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow. Ogle County detectives say they do not see any obvious signs of trauma, although they believe the woman has been in the water for a while considering she was covered in weeds and algae.

To identify the woman, investigators will start checking dental records and x-rays.

We will bring you the latest as more information becomes available.

BYRON (WIFR) -- A body has been found in the Rock River near the intersection of Route 2 and Townline Road, south of Byron.

We have been told that the body is a female. However, authorities at the scene say they are far from determining whether or not it is the body of the missing Machesney Park woman.

We will bring you more information as it becomes available.

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Katrina Smith found dead in Rock River

By Jennifer Wheeler and Kevin Haas
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 10, 2012 @ 02:11 PM

ROCKFORD — The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Saturday afternoon the body found in the Rock River was 30-year-old Katrina Smith, who went missing nearly three weeks ago.

The Ogle County Coroner's Office, which performed the autopsy, identified Smith by her dental records.

The Byron Fire Department’s water rescue team recovered the body Friday afternoon after an off-duty firefighter fishing in the Rock River saw it ensnarled in a tree. Winnebago County Sheriff’s Detectives were called to the scene along with members of the Ogle County Sheriff’s Department.

Rescuers said the body had been in the water for a significant amount of time and was starting to deteriorate. Though the body was clothed, the garments were faded and unidentifiable.

Smith went missing Oct. 22 after she left her Tetterhall Lane home to run an errand. Smith’s husband, Todd Smith, 45, called the Roscoe Police Department the following day to report her disappearance.

Friends, family and volunteers have searched for Smith for weeks, combing Schoonmaker Park and the banks of the Rock River. Hundreds of people attended a vigil Nov. 1.

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A body recovered from the Rock River south of Byron Friday afternoon has been identified as Katrina A. Smith, 30, Machesney Park.

Smith was reported missing from her home on Oct. 23.

She was identified by dental records following an autopsy Saturday morning.

Ogle County Sheriff Michael Harn said he could not release further details.

Harn said the body was mostly submerged in the river and caught on a large log several yards from the shoreline about a mile south of Byron.

He said the body was clothed and had begun to decompose.

An off-duty Byron firefighter who was fishing in the area saw the body and called 911 around 12:30 p.m.

Divers from the Byron Fire Department recovered the body.

"They walked out there. The water is only waist-deep," Harn said.

Four Winnebago County detectives came to the scene of where the body was recovered to confer with Ogle County officials.

The investigation into Smith's death continues.
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It's ALWAY's someone fishing/hunting/a construction worker/a meter reader or a person driving by who discovers a body or a skull. MOO.

Posted: Sun 9:48 PM, Nov 11, 2012A A
Updated: Sun 10:47 PM, Nov 11, 2012Back to News

ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- The family of a missing Machesney Park woman speaks out for the first time since the victim's body was found in the Rock River nearly three weeks since she went missing.

“My biggest fear was never finding her, so it gave me a little relief here,” says Katrina Smith’s mother Vicki Nalevac.

Family members say they are devastated by the news. Katrina’s loved ones and complete strangers have been searching the Stateline since she went missing. Winnebago County detectives are not releasing Katrina’s cause of death. They think it could hurt the investigation. An off duty fire fighter spotted Katrina in the water just south of Byron on Friday. The case has spanned multiple cities; police say Katrina’s car was found in Machesney Park while her wallet was found in Rockford. Family members say they want answers.

“We are overwhelmed by the support that has been shown to the family,” says Katrina’s brother Chad Kaltved. “From, friends and community members, anyone who has helped out, words can't express how that is uplifted us."

The entire family sat down with 23 News on Sunday, including Katrina’s parents, husband and sister. We're hoping to learn new details on the investigation sometime this week. No one is in custody.

The public is invited to honor Katrina. Her funeral will be held at 11 am Saturday, November 17th, at Heartland Church. There will be a visitation the night before from five to nine. Her family says the community is welcome to attend.

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video at above link of family speaking.

Another one. I am so sorry to read that Katrina was found dead. There's just too many of these stories!

It is NEVER ENDING!!!!

Authorities investigate Katrina Smith's death as homicide
Zoom

By Jeff Kolkey
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:09 AM
Last update Nov 13, 2012 @ 01:07 PM

MACHESNEY PARK — An autopsy shows that Katrina Smith, 30, suffered “blunt force trauma” and investigators believe she was a homicide victim.

That’s according to Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police who today released a one-sentence update of previous news releases.

Smith’s body was found Friday by an off-duty firefighter fishing in the Rock River near Byron. She had been missing since Oct. 22 when she was last seen by her husband Todd Smith, 45, leaving their Machesney Park home.

Smith did not show up for work the next day on Oct. 23 at Camryn Company in Belvidere where she worked in the human resources department. She was reported missing by Todd Smith, sparking a massive hunt that included friends, families and volunteers searching for her or any clue about what happened to her.

The initial report was placed with the Roscoe Police Department because she had been staying there at a friend’s condominium.

Katrina Smith was separated from her husband, police have said.

Daily search parties of family, friends and volunteers ensued in search of any sign of Smith or her belongings.

Katrina Smith’s abandoned vehicle was found in the area of Obispo Road and Ventura Boulevard in Machesney Park on Oct. 23, and her purse was discovered nearby Oct. 24. Her cell phone was located Oct. 25 and bloody paper towels — that may or may not be connected to her disappearance — were located Oct. 26 in the area of Obispo and Ralston roads.

No arrests have been reported.

Police have not said whether they are investigating Todd Smith as a potential suspect. He expressed concern for his missing wife and participated in the search.

Although Todd Smith has no known recent criminal convictions, he was sentenced to 30 months probation after being convicted of setting his family’s Machesney Park home on fire in 1985 when he was 17 years old. His family who were inside, narrowly escaped.

Smith — whose name at the time was Todd C. Raprager — told police he did it because he was having problems with his parents, according to court records.

In 1992, he legally changed his given name of Todd C. Raprager to Todd Smith, court records said.

Recently, a retirement planning business he operated was scrutinized by authorities with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office over fraud allegations.

Funeral services this weekend
The public is invited to say goodbye to Smith this weekend.

Visitation and funeral services are planned at Heartland Community Church, 1280 S. Alpine Road.

Visitation is planned Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service.

Burial will be at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery, 6202 Charles St.

In lieu of flowers and memorials, a donation can be made to the Katrina Smith Fund at Riverside Community Bank. Condolence messages can be sent to Smith’s family at: Heartland Community Church, C/O Katrina Smith Family, 1280 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL 61108.

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Autopsy completed on Katrina Smith

Posted: Nov 13, 2012 10:34 AM CST
By Samantha Jeffreys - email

MACHESNEY PARK (WREX) -
The autopsy results are in for the woman who was found dead in the Rock River last Friday after being reported missing in Machesney Park in late October.

An autopsy was performed on the body of Katrina Smith by the Ogle County Coroner's Office on November 10. Results showed Smith suffered blunt force trauma. The case of her death is now being classified as a homicide.

Detectives from both the Ogle County and Winnebago County Sheriff's Departments attended the autopsy.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to call the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department at 815-319-6400 or CrimeStoppers at 815-963-7867.

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Investigators say Katrina Smith was beaten to death

By Jeff Kolkey and Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:09 AM
Last update Nov 13, 2012 @ 10:06 PM

ROCKFORD — Katrina Smith, 30, suffered “blunt force trauma,” and investigators believe she was a homicide victim.

Today was the first time authorities publicly classified the case as a homicide, but Sheriff Dick Meyers said, “We’ve treated it as a homicide from day one.”

Smith, a Machesney Park resident who had been missing since Oct. 22, was found Friday by an off-duty Byron firefighter fishing in the Rock River south of Byron.

An autopsy performed Saturday in Ogle County confirmed Winnebago County investigators’ suspicions that Smith’s disappearance was because of foul play.

“There were several points of blunt-force throughout the body,” Meyers said.

As for how long Smith had been dead before she was discovered, Meyers said, “Every indication to us is she was in the river since the night she came up missing.”

Meyers said the next step entails awaiting analysis of evidence submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.

This afternoon, Smith’s brother, Chad Kaltved, hosted a news conference at Heartland Church. He announced more than $5,500 was raised at a recent benefit for his sister. He said the funds will be used as seed money to establish the Katrina Smith Missing Person Foundation to help families of missing people. Details will be finalized after this weekend’s funeral.

Because authorities have yet to identify a person of interest, Kaltved spoke little to the fact this his sister’s killer remains free, other than to say, “Come forward, and own up to what you did.”

Police have not said whether they are investigating Todd Smith, 45, Katrina’s husband, as a suspect. He expressed concern for his missing wife and participated in the search.

Although Todd Smith has no known recent criminal convictions, he was sentenced to 30 months probation after being convicted of setting his family’s Machesney Park home on fire in 1985 when he was 17 years old. His family was inside the home and narrowly escaped.

Smith — whose name at the time was Todd C. Raprager — told police he did it because he was having problems with his parents, according to court records.

In 1992, he legally changed his given name to Todd Smith, court records said.

Recently, a retirement planning business he operated was scrutinized by authorities with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office over fraud allegations.

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by Chelsea Hoffman

Who Murdered Katrina Smith?

November 16, 2012 07:35 AM EST

Last week the body of Katrina Smith was discovered and her cause of death has been ruled a homicide. Now it's up to investigators to find out who murdered the 30-year-old Roscoe woman. In the meantime, there is a website claiming to know who murdered the once-missing woman—her husband.

The criminal past of Todd Smith is well known by now in the media, but a website owned by his estranged half-brother alleges the man killed his wife. The website, titled "Convict Todd Smith", is under scrutiny right now, and the story behind it is interesting to say the least.

The half brother also alleges that Todd Smith and another brother of his, Dayne Coursey, were going to pin an arson on him from 20 years ago. It's been stated in the media that the husband of Katrina Smith had burned down his family home years ago.

These are all very interesting details, and if they have even a shred of truth to them the investigators on this case are sure to figure it out. It's frightening to think a significant other would be responsible for a murder, but in reality it's far more common than it should be. Hopefully Todd isn't connected to the disappearance and murder of his wife, but he does in fact to be a target of investigation as much as any other person of interest with a questionable past related to violence.

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Website is down. Chelsea posted that article 3 hours ago. Hmmm.

ROCKFORD — The husband of a woman whose body was discovered in the Rock River earlier this month has been charged with her murder.
Todd C. Smith, 45, of Machesney Park, Ill., was arrested at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was in a car in Rockford at the time he was arrested.

He has been charged with four counts of first degree homicide and one count of concealing a homicide in relation to the death of his wife, Katrina Smith, 30.
Todd Smith reported his wife missing to the Roscoe Police Department on Oct. 23. The Roscoe Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department investigated the missing person’s case and friends and family conducted searches of the area.
Katrina Smith’s body was found Nov. 9 in the Rock River south of Byron, Ill. The Ogle County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma.
Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato said Todd Smith’s arrest was made after the investigation report from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department was presented to the State’s Attorney’s Office. He declined to comment on any evidence collected in the case or any motive in the crime. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
Todd Smith is being held at the Winnebago County Jail in Rockford on $4 million bond. He is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Courtroom B at the Winnebago County Justice Center.
Katrina Smith was last seen on the evening of Oct. 22. Todd Smith reported her missing to the Roscoe Police Department. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department had indicated early in the investigation that Katrina Smith lived in Machesney Park, but she also had recently started staying in Roscoe.
Katrina Smith’s car was found Oct. 23 near the intersection of Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park. Her purse was found a short distance from her car and her cell phone was found in the 700 block of Ralston Road in Machesney Park. Her wallet was found in Rockford a week after her disappearance.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on Oct. 30 at the home of Todd and Katrina Smith at 8329 Tetterhall Lane, Machesney Park. Neither the sheriff’s department nor the state’s attorney’s office would comment on any evidence found as a result of that search warrant.
Todd Smith faces a possible sentence of 20 to 100 years in prison for the first two counts of homicide if convicted and 20 to 60 years in prison for the third and fourth count of homicide. The count for concealing a homicide carries a possible prison sentence of two to five years.
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Katrina Smith's husband is currently being held on $400,000 bond just days after attending the woman's funeral. As reported in this Gather News article, he was arrested the day before Thanksgiving after police believe he murdered his estranged wife. She died by blunt force trauma, but the exact method hasn't been clarified. What is being clarified, however, are some of the details behind Todd Smith's arrest.

Todd Smith was reportedly arrested peacefully after being pulled over as a passenger in a car that was pulled over by officials.There are other details in the arrest and the days leading up to the arrest but officials are not clarifying on them yet. However, it is revealed that clues did lead to Todd.

It should be noted that Katrina Smith's family are not surprised by the arrest of her estranged husband. Her cousin said so, and her stepbrother also spoke out about Todd's arrest. At first Chad Kaltved supported Todd when accusations were floating around about the man. However, those feelings are beginning to change, but he is reserving himself as police conduct their investigation. That's probably the more levelheaded way to go about things.
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Accused of beating Katrina Smith to death and putting her body in the Rock River, Todd Smith appeared in court to hear the charges against him. The 45-year-old man didn't make any statements indicating whether or not he is responsible for his wife's murder, but his voice broke as he acknowledged the charges against him and expressed that he probably couldn't afford an attorney. Though, with him being on unlucky end of the criminal justice system, he should probably be given a public defender for this case.

He's charged with beating Katrina to death in late October before covering up the homicide by hiding her body in the Rock River. Two of the charges against him carry sentences that range as far as 100 years -- meaning he has quite the uphill battle ahead of him if he's truly interested in proving his innocence.

Will there be justice for Katrina Smith? If her husband didn't do this (and that's a small possibility) could someone else be considered of interest in the investigation? Or do police believe they have their one and only guy?
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Man is arrested for murdering his wife after her body was found in the river

By Vinde Wells - Editor
Created: Thursday, November 29, 2012 2:42 p.m. CST
Updated: Thursday, November 29, 2012 2:46 p.m. CST

The husband of a Machesney Park woman whose body was found in the Rock River near Byron was charged with her murder last week.

Winnebago County Sheriff's Police arrested Todd Smith, 45, on Nov. 21 on four counts of first degree murder and one count of concealing a homicidal death in the death of his wife Katrina Smith, 30.

He is being held in the Winnebago County Jail in lieu of $4 million bond. His first court appearance was Nov. 24.

Katrina Smith was reportedly last seen alive on Oct. 22. Todd Smith reported her missing the next day.

Her body was discovered Nov. 9 in the Rock River about a mile south of Byron.

An off-duty Byron firefighter, who was fishing in that area, spotted the body, caught on a large log and mostly submerged in the water several yards from the shoreline.

Winnebago County detectives said an autopsy performed Nov. 10 showed that Smith died from blunt force trauma.

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ROCKFORD — Todd C. Smith today entered a not guilty plea to a Winnebago County Grand Jury bill of indictment charging him with first degree murder and other crimes in the beating death Katrina Smith, his 30-year-old wife.

If convicted of the most serious charges of first degree murder in a heinous and cruel manner, he could be sentenced to life in prison. He is also charged with first degree murder while committing aggravated domestic battery, unlawful restraint and concealment of a homicide.

Wearing a red jail jumpsuit, Smith, 45, answered Judge John Truitt in a near whisper that he understood the charges against him.

They include allegations that he forced his wife into the trunk of a car on or about Oct. 22, beat her to death with a baseball bat and threw her into the Rock River, where she was discovered weeks after he reported her missing.

Family, friends and dozens of volunteers aided police in a massive search for Katrina or any evidence of her location. Her body was found Nov. 9 by an off-duty Byron firefighter fishing in the Rock River south of Byron.

Smith who had participated in the search for his wife and had made statements of concern for her, was arrested Nov. 20 for her murder. He is being held in the Winnebago County Jail on $4 million bond, which means $400,000 would need to be posted for his release.

Check back later for more on this story and in tomorrow’s Rockford Register Star.
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Todd Smith was charged Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 with four counts of first-degree murder.

Todd Smith's bond will stay at $4 million

Posted: Mar 22, 2013 3:07 PM CDT
By Katie Nilsson - bio | email

ROCKFORD -
The bond for a man in the Winnebago County Jail for murder will remain the same.

Todd Smith is charged for killing his wife Katrina Smith last fall. She went missing from her Machesney Park home in October. Her body was found several weeks later in the Rock River in Byron. Smith was arrested shortly after that and charged with murder. A judge denied his motion for a reduced bond, so it will stay at $4 million. Smith will be back in court again in April.

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A series of pretrial hearings in the murder case of Todd Smith is scheduled to continue Wednesday, April 17, at 9 a.m., in courtroom B inside the Winnebago County Justice Center.

Smith, 45, is the Machesney Park man accused of beating his wife, 30-year-old Katrina Smith, to death with a baseball bat last fall.

Since his arrest Nov. 24, Smith has appeared in court six times in the pretrial phase of his case.

Since he pleaded not guilty to charges in an 11-count grand jury indictment Dec. 14, Smith’s attorney’s, Derrick Schmidt and Margie O’Connor of the Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office, have filed motions to release several pieces of evidence. So far, evidence has included bank records, mobile phone records for two numbers, news footage in which reporters interviewed Todd Smith, and a set of car keys.

According to sources, blood samples, a laptop, printer and articles of clothing have also been entered into evidence. It is not known if a murder weapon has been identified.

The car keys are listed as personal property, items belonging to Todd Smith. It is not known if police ever found keys for Katrina Smith’s late-model Chevy Cruz, found abandoned Oct. 23 near the intersection of Ventura Boulevard. and Obispo in Machesney Park.

Judge John Truitt, March 22, denied a defense motion to reduce bail. Smith remains jailed on a $4 million bond.

He stands accused of seven counts of first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated unlawful restraint and one count of concealing a homicide.

Prosecutors allege that Todd Smith used a baseball bat to beat Katrina about the head and body. He then allegedly placed Katrina in the trunk of a vehicle, transported her to the Rock River and dumped her into the water.

Todd Smith reported his wife missing Oct. 23, telling police she left their home at 8239 Tetterhall Lane to run errands the night before and failed to return.

It was later learned Katrina was living in Roscoe and the couple had separated. It is believed she was at the couple’s home Oct. 22 to do laundry.

After a massive search involving dozens of volunteers, Katrina’s body was found Friday, Nov. 9, in the Rock River by an off-duty firefighter. The body was pulled from the water near the intersection of Route 2 and Townline Road, south of Byron, Ill. The remains were identified using dental records.

According to court records, Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato’s office is seeking an extended prison term because the crime was brutal and heinous.

That means Todd Smith could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted on just one count of first-http://www.rockfordrecord.com/2013/04/04/todd-smith-murder-case-continues-next-hearing-april-17/degree murder.

Todd C. Smith

Schoonmaker Park is quiet and serene this July day. It's very different from last fall when volunteers searched on foot for any sign of Katrina Smith.

Her body would eventually be found downstream in the Rock River.

"It's definitely been the most difficult eight months for any of us, but just trying to get through each day," said Katrina's Sister Miraynda Castro.

This is just one of the fields that family friends and an entire community canvassed just days after just days after Katrina Smith's disappearance. Her husband Todd Smith is now in jail accused of her murder. Her family says they're coping the best that they can.

Now Katrina's family wants to thank the community and honor her memory with a balloon launch on her birthday.

"It started with the yellow ribbons, and then the yellow carnations, and everything so I figured just yellow balloons," explained Castro.

Katrina's sister Miraynda Castro is planning the memorial. She'll use the event to announce the foundation she's started in her sister's name.

Castro will graduate with her nursing degree soon. She says it's what Katrina would want.

"For me personally just to get back in school right away and just surround myself with my friends and family, and try to keep busy. And do the things that I know she would want me to do," said Castro.

And with the strength of her family Castro is getting through the loss of her sister and pouring her heart into the new foundation.

"Just relying on each other just to get through it. It's been rough to say the least," said Castro.

The balloon launch will take place next Tuesday at 6 P.M. at Schoonmaker Park. Anyone who wants to attend can RSVP at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] . Her family is encouraging the public to attend
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Video at link