East Texas man gets 50 years for murdering his wife with axe

GILMER, Texas — An East Texas man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday for killing his wife with an axe in February 2024. 

Craig Allen Smith, 41, of Gilmer, pleaded guilty to murder in the 115th District in connection with the death of Vennessa Renae Smith, 41, on Feb. 26, 2024 at a Gilmer home. 

According to the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, Vennessa Smith’s body was found in her bed lying in blood with multiple injuries to her head, face, and neck from a splitting maul axe. 

Before her body was found, officers found Craig Smith around 2 a.m. Feb. 26 soaking wet on the front of his clothes and dry on the back. He initially lied about his name, but he admitted to lying because his wife was dead and he didn’t want to get caught up in the situation. He told police that he didn’t kill his wife, the DA’s Office said.

Craig Smith said she was dead for a few hours and told police she was at their home on Walnut Street in Gilmer. He was booked into the Upshur County Jail for assault and failure to identify. After that, police went to the home to find Vennessa Smith dead. 

The victim’s daughter, who was next door, said she heard an argument between Vennessa and Craig Smith and she had texted her mom to see if she was OK. But the daughter never heard from her mother, according to the DA’s Office. 

Testing identified the blood on Craig Smith’s shirt as that of Vennessa Smith’s. 

With Vennessa Smith’s family and police in the courtroom, Craig Smith pleaded guilty to murder and received a 50-year sentence. 

“A special thank you to the Gilmer Police Department for properly investigating and working the crime scene, which was led by Chuck Head, and to the witnesses who were thoroughly prepared to prosecute this Defendant. This sentence would not have been possible without you all,” Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said. 

CBS19 is available live and on-demand on your favorite TV streaming device, anytime from anywhere in the U.S.

The free CBS19+ app for Roku,Amazon Fire TV,Apple TV and smart TV devices features a 24/7 stream with the latest from CBS19.

In addition to the live stream, watch the latest from CBS19 on-demand, along with additional programming from our partners at TEGNA (like Verify, “Murder at My Door” and “In the News”) and Locked On Sports, plus special collections from CBS19 like Under the Lights, Hooked on East Texas and CBS19 Originals. 

Add the free CBS19 channel by searching for CBS19 East Texas News in the Roku Channel Store on your device, or add the CBS19+ Roku channel using this link.

Search for the free CBS19+ app in the Amazon App Store directly on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, or add the CBS19+ Fire TV app using this link.

Search for the free CBS19+ app in the Amazon App Store directly on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, or add the CBS19+ Fire TV app using this link.

Learn more about the free CBS19+ app in the Apple TV App Store and download directly from your Apple TV device.

The CBS19+ app is also now available directly on “smart” or “connected” televisions made by Samsung, LG and Philips, as well as televisions with Android TV. Search for CBS19 East Texas News in your television’s app store to add CBS19+.

The CBS19+ 24/7 stream can be viewed on any desktop or mobile web browser anytime on the Watch page here on cbs19.tv.

You can also watch CBS19 News streaming live on the free CBS19 mobile app for your smartphone:

• CBS19 app on iOS in the Apple App Store
• CBS19 app on Android in the Google Play Store