It was Thanksgiving Day, 2012, in the small town of Little Falls, Minnesota. That morning, cousins Nick Brady and Haile Kifer set out to visit family for dinner. But when they never showed up, their loved ones were thrown into a desperate search. By the next day, their worst fears were confirmed—Nick and Haile had been killed inside the home of 64-year-old Byron Smith.

At first glance, it looked like a tragic but lawful case of self-defense under Minnesota’s Castle Doctrine. Smith claimed he’d been terrorized by repeated break-ins and had finally snapped when the teens entered his home. But the investigation revealed something far more chilling: Byron Smith hadn’t been caught off guard. He’d been lying in wait.

This week, we dive into the audio recordings that changed everything, the trial that divided the community, and the chilling words Smith used to justify what he’d done, which leaves us with the question: was this self defense… or murder?

Sources:

Minnesota man guilty of murdering teenage intruders | US crime | The Guardian

One break-in tied to slain Little Falls teens, others being investigated

Minn. man says he "fired more shots than I needed" |AP

Jury Hears Audio Recording Of Little Falls Killings - CBS Minnesota

Little Falls shooter protected U.S. embassies from terrorists and spies | MPR News

Byron Smith Murder Trial Case Sent To Jury

Byron David Smith Killed teens Haile Kifer and Nicholas Schaeffel because he feared weapons cops say

US Supreme Court Byron David Smith v Jeff Titus, Warden, Minnesota Correctional Facility

Byron Smith | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Byron Smith Murder Trial Case Sent To Jury

Byron David Smith Full Length Interrogation

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