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FBI Investigating Fiery Car Death Of Woman Charged In Driver's License Scheme
Associated Press / SFGate ^

Posted on 02/13/2002 9:19:19 AM PST by RCW2001

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:39:36 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

The focus of an investigation into a fraudulent driver's license scheme with possible terrorism ties has shifted to the mysterious death of a chief suspect, whose car went up in flames a day before her court hearing.

Katherine Smith, 49, was found burned beyond recognition early Sunday in a car crash that a prosecutor described as "most unusual and suspicious." Her arraignment in federal court was scheduled for Monday.


(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: tnlicensescandals
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1 posted on 02/13/2002 9:19:19 AM PST by RCW2001
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To: RCW2001
Oh the FBI is on it. Man I sure feel better.

Vince Foster, TWA 800, Waco, the whole Clinton administration... need we say more?

2 posted on 02/13/2002 9:28:33 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
And if the FBI was ignoring the suspicious circumstances, would you feel better?
3 posted on 02/13/2002 9:30:39 AM PST by LenS
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To: DoughtyOne
Possibly the car burned due to having the trunk full of Rose Law firm billing records -- who knows?
4 posted on 02/13/2002 9:32:28 AM PST by KC Burke
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To: LenS
How many investigations that go nowhere does it take? They gladly took over the other investigations too. That's the point.
5 posted on 02/13/2002 9:33:24 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: RCW2001
As the article dances around, the fatal fire was completely confined to the passenger compartment. No fire from the gas tank, no fire from the engine room. In fact, the amount of damage to the vehicle was so slight that its speed-of-impact would almost certainly not have been enough to cause any fire and PROBABLY not any personal injury to the victim. Probable speed at impact - less than 5 mph.

Assuming the autopsy can tell us something - and that's asking a great deal, given the corpse's condition and the political intrigue in Memphis - we should be able to find out whether she was already at room temp (or at least unconscious) when the perps poured in the accelerant, lit it, and pushed it into the tree...OR if some kind of remote-detonated fuel bomb was used after they'd aided her path toward the tree.

This particular incident has all the hallmarks of a botched assasination attempt that succeeded despite the stupidity of the perps. They DID succeed in bumping her off. But they did it so poorly that the fact that it was a "hit" was immediately apparent.

That said - for a mere drivers' license scandal, someone wanted this gal dead REALLY BAD.

Michael

6 posted on 02/13/2002 9:34:31 AM PST by Wright is right!
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To: RCW2001
This lady wasn't living in Arkansas by chance?
7 posted on 02/13/2002 9:34:43 AM PST by arly
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To: DoughtyOne
I fear that we will be adding Walker-Lindh to that list very soon...
8 posted on 02/13/2002 9:35:36 AM PST by Registered
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To: LenS
Ignoring it is about as useful as framing someone for it.
9 posted on 02/13/2002 9:35:48 AM PST by steve50
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To: KC Burke
Heh heh heh. I'm not buying off on that one. But I would find it very Fostereske if she burned to death and the front seat was undamaged.
10 posted on 02/13/2002 9:36:20 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: RCW2001
"Katherine Smith, 49, was found burned beyond recognition..."

Then how do they know it was her?

11 posted on 02/13/2002 9:37:52 AM PST by South40
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To: Wright is right!
First reports said smoke in her lungs, would indicate she was breathing when it was torched. FBI will probably blame tobacco.
12 posted on 02/13/2002 9:38:23 AM PST by steve50
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To: steve50
Do they know where Janet Sterno was when this occurred?
13 posted on 02/13/2002 9:39:33 AM PST by South40
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To: RCW2001
Good Find!!!!!!!!!!!!

.........it may take two or three weeks to complete an autopsy and forensic tests on the car.

The country MAY not have that long.

.........investigators found a Sept. 5 visitor's pass for the World Trade Center in his wallet.........authorities learned that Odtllah drove to Memphis from New York City on Sept. 11

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................

14 posted on 02/13/2002 9:40:05 AM PST by DoctorMichael
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To: Registered
I'm not sure about that. I think the public has bought off on his guilt to the point that he's no threat to anyone. I sure have.
15 posted on 02/13/2002 9:40:18 AM PST by DoughtyOne
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To: South40
http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_983222,00.html

Body from car was defendant in driver's license case, medical examiner rules

Katherine Smith identified through dental records; cause of death pending

By By Bill Dries dries@gomemphis.com

A Memphis woman allegedly at the center of a scheme to sell fraudulent Tennessee driver's licenses has been identified as the person whose burned body was found early Sunday in the wreckage of a car in Fayette County, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Lt. Col. Mark Fagan said Katherine Smith was identified by the Shelby County Medical Examiner's office through dental records. The office also found "evidence of smoke inhalation," Fagan said. This indicates Smith was alive when her car left the road, crossed a ditch and ran into a utility pole.

The Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash, is awaiting a rule on the cause of death from the medical examiner in Fayette County. Fagan said he did not know when the report would be completed.

16 posted on 02/13/2002 9:44:02 AM PST by testforecho
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To: South40
Then how do they know it was her?

They used her dental records according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

17 posted on 02/13/2002 9:46:26 AM PST by JohnMac
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To: Wright is right!
She probably dropped her cigarette, sarcasm I think.
18 posted on 02/13/2002 9:46:57 AM PST by boomop1
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To: RCW2001
Arkancide rears its' ugly head in Tennessee.
19 posted on 02/13/2002 9:51:01 AM PST by b4its2late
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To: South40
Then how do they know it was her?

Ever hear of dental records?

20 posted on 02/13/2002 9:51:34 AM PST by Cobra64
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