Carolyn Killaby Crimeline
Carolyn Killaby
October 2, 1961: Carolyn Lieb Killaby was born.
December 1980: Dennis Smith was convicted of possession of stolen property and jumping bail.
March 1982: Dennis Smith was released on parole.
June 26, 1982: Patricia Johnson was last seen.
Patricia Johnson
July 2, 1982: Patricia Johnson’s car was found four hours from her home.
July 6, 1982: Patricia Johnson’s body was found near Salmon Creek by her ex-husband.
October 22, 1982: Dennis Smith pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder.
1990: Carolyn and Dan Killaby married and blended their families, each bringing a daughter into the relationship.
Dan and Caroyn Killaby
June 23, 1993: Dennis Smith was paroled after spending around 10 years behind bars.
December 1994: Dennis Smith was incarcerated for a parole violation (failed drug test).
March of 1995: Dennis Smith was released from jail again.
November 11, 1995: Carolyn Killaby went to Omar's Steakhouse and Lounge 10411 NE Fourth Plain Rd, Vancouver, WA
November 11, 1995: Two people called 911 shortly before midnight with reports of a woman screaming for help not far from where Carolyn Killaby was last seen.
November 12, 1995: Dennis Smith was seen at 1:30 am with blood on his shirt and his hand wrapped.
November 12, 1995: Dan Killaby came home and found Carolyn missing.
November 13, 1995: Carolyn Killaby's car was found in the steakhouse parking lot.
November 20, 1995: Dennis Smith fled from his parole officer's office.
July 12, 1996: An arrest warrant was issued for Dennis Smith after DNA linked blood in his vehicle to Carolyn Killaby.
January 31, 1997: A "fugitive" segment aired on Unsolved Mysteries about Dennis Smith. He watched the show with friends.
Dennis Keith Smith’s mugshot
February 4, 1997: Dennis Smith was pulled over in a stolen vehicle and shot after he went for the officer's gun.
May 12, 1998: Dennis Smith was found guilty of one count of aggravated murder and one count of first-degree murder for killing Carolyn Killaby. He was given an automatic life without parole sentence.
September 4, 1998: The parole board revoked Dennis Smith's parole in the 1982 murder of his sister, adding 99 years to his sentence.
April 20, 2001: Following a successful appeal overturning his aggravated murder charge, Dennis Smith's new sentencing was held on the first-degree murder charge. He was given 70 years behind bars.
April 1, 2002: The state of Washington agreed to pay Carolyn Killaby's family $2.8 million for poor supervision of Dennis Smith while he was on parole.
November 17, 2004: Dennis Smith took his own life in prison having never revealed the location of Carolyn Killaby's body.