A handwritten letter by Smith dated Feb. 5 - the day of her arrest - was included in pretrial discovery material the government provided to defense attorneys.After the hearing, defense attorney Jeffrey Jones showed the letter to several reporters.
Asked if the letter appeared to be a suicide note, Jones said, "That's certainly one interpretation."
Written on green flowered stationery headed "Gardening Angel," the note read: "I Katherine Smith tried to help Kal. He didn't give me any money. He was I thought my friend. I was trying to help him. Now I've lost everything and am called a liar when I was telling the truth. I can't live without any honor. I live a lonely life true enough but I didn't lie to the FBI. Forgive me John. Forgive me Vernola. I can't live this way. I love you both and wish and pray for the best. Love Mama."
The names in the letter, apparently discovered during the FBI's investigation, refer to alleged conspiracy ringleader Khaled Odtllah, who is known as "Kal," and Smith's son and daughter, John Barton IV and Vernola Buchanan.
Katherine Smith links:
Feb. 11
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR AIDING ARABS IN DRIVER'S LICENSE SCAM PRESUMED DEAD
Feb. 12
Feds fear license examiner is dead - Memphis Woman's co-defendants tied to 9/11, judge told
Feb. 13:
Body in car identified as license examiner - Update on Memphis, Tennesse License Examiner
Feb. 14
TENN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS
Flaming death no accident, FBI says - Gasoline found on clothes of license examiner
Feb. 15
New York Times (with Pics of car) F.B.I. Says Arson Killed Woman Accused in License Scheme
Sm ith led low-impact life until arrest, fiery end (Not a thread)
Images of the burned car owned by Katherine Smith * alternate title: How Arabs Kill Witnesses
FBI Agent: Arson Killed Key Suspect (driver's license examiner accused of supplying terrorists)
Feb.16
TE NN DRIVER LICENSE SCANDAL: FLAMING DEATH NO ACCIDENT, FBI SAYS
Terror Links In Tenn. Mystery? (CBS News)
Feb. 18:
Mourners remember the good deeds of license examiner, not how she died
Feb. 20
Terror in Tennessee? (Front Page magazine)
Feb. 22
Terroris m expert [Steven Emerson] monitors the Mid-South (WMC-TV Memphis 2/23)
Feb. 24:
March 6
Patrol says examiner's death not due to crash (+ witness accounts)
