Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

MEMPHIS, TN: MEDICAL EXAMINER AMUSHED
The Commercial Appeal ^ | 6/3/02 | Yolanda Jones

Posted on 06/03/2002 5:16:38 AM PDT by GailA

Medical examiner ambushed Bomb, barbed wire, acid used in attack on Smith

By Yolanda Jones yojones@gomemphis.com June 3, 2002

An attacker ambushed Shelby County Medical Examiner Dr. O. C. Smith Saturday night, wrapped him from head to toe in barbed wire and strapped a bomb to his body.

Police said Smith left his office at about 10 and was headed to the parking lot when someone threw an acid-like substance in his face to subdue him.

For nearly three hours, he was unable to move or shout for help because of the barbed wire in his mouth.

A security guard spotted Smith's vehicle in the parking lot, became suspicious and found Smith about 12:30 a.m. Sunday outside the office building in the medical center.

The police bomb squad was called to free Smith because of the device bound to his body. Smith was taken to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and treated for cuts, bruises and a chemical burn to his face.

Released early Sunday, Smith went back to his office to help investigators work the case.

"This is his character," said Deputy Chief R. G. Wright of the Memphis police. "He is always willing to help out and always go the extra mile no matter what."

Sunday, police had more questions than answers.

"Yes, this was a functioning device that could have caused serious injuries or killed somebody," said Gene Marquez, resident agent in charge of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms office in Memphis.

This is the second time in the last three months a bomb or explosive device has been left on the doorstep of the Shelby County Regional Forensic Center, which houses the morgue and the Medical Examiner's Office.

On March 13, a bomb and two smaller explosive-type devices were found in a stairwell of the building at 1060 Madison.

At the time, local and federal agents couldn't say for sure if Smith and his staff were the targets.

Saturday's attack on Smith left police with little doubt about the focus of the attack but no answers as to why.

"We don't know a motive and aren't making any assumptions as to why anyone would want to hurt Dr. Smith," said Wright.

During a noon press conference, Memphis police and ATF agents wouldn't disclose specifics of the investigation such as information about a suspect or details about the device. Authorities said Smith was found on an outside stairway on the west side of the forensic center building. It was near the area where the bomb and other devices were found in March.

"All we can say is the components of this device are similar to the one found in March," said Marquez. "Both are not very sophisticated and are very similar, but until we finish the investigation we can't say if the two are connected."

When the device was removed from Smith, police X-rayed it to see if it was an explosive device. When they determined it was a bomb, they sent it to the ATF lab in Atlanta for further analysis.

Today, the ATF's National Response Team, made up of agents who are experts on explosive devices and who specialize in profiling bombers, will arrive in Memphis.

"This is the cream of the cream," Marquez said. "We are planning to saturate this investigation and team up with local police on this matter immediately."

The ATF also is offering a $5,000 reward for information about the case.

The Commercial Appeal could not reach Smith, who was placed under heavy security, for comment.

Smith, 49, is one of several local forensic science specialists who help investigate criminal cases.

Last year, anonymous letters threatened harm to Smith, a prosecution witness in the long-running case of convicted Memphis cop killer Philip Workman.

Smith said at the time that he had not received any letters himself but was taking the threats "very seriously."

Workman's attorneys had challenged the validity of Smith's ballistics and laboratory tests. Smith said the tests proved Workman's bullet killed Memphis police Lt. Ronald Oliver in 1981.

In one letter, the writer called Smith a liar and said, "Long have I waited for my HOLY ORDER to fight against the DOCTOR-KILLER abortionists but now I know OUR LORD was saving me for something larger."

"I know Dr. Smith has worked several big cases, but I can't imagine who would want to hurt him," said Wright. "That is what we are working on now to find out."

Known for his precision and thorough work, Smith is highly regarded by police and prosecutors and defense attorneys as well.

"In the 1994 case where we found three homicide victims hidden in the cemetery, Dr. Smith was right there down in the graves working hard like always," said Wright.

Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 528-CASH or the ATF hotline at (888) ATF-BOMB.

- Yolanda Jones: 529-2380


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: donwiley; hughhewitt; katherinesmith; medicalexaminer; tennessee; tnlicensescandals
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last
To: Fred Mertz
Meanwhile, AP is placing their bets that it was the anti-abortionist...
21 posted on 06/03/2002 12:57:12 PM PDT by weegee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Shermy
"There's a whole lot of something wrong going down in Tennessee"

Sure is. Yeh, and the Tyson-Lewis fight might create a lot more of something wrong going down in Tennessee. But, let's hope not.

22 posted on 06/03/2002 1:06:34 PM PDT by Dixielander
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Shermy; eodguy
Thanks for the ping, shermy. bttt
23 posted on 06/03/2002 2:13:42 PM PDT by JMJ333
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: JMJ333
Mr Pleasant is a former Marine as well as being a trained observer as an ME. No mention was made of the attacker's race. That makes me think it was a white or middle easterner. The Workman case (cop killer on death row) is another high profile case.

At this point all we can do is conjecture. I personally believe it is connected to the DD/middle easterners.

24 posted on 06/03/2002 2:27:34 PM PDT by GailA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: JDGreen123
How about a home grown Black Muslim?

I use the same reasoning out here in Kali whenever a gross murder is committed or really whacked out crime of violence like this one. My poor wife and DIL don't even call me a red necked racist any more when I use the same reasoning and deduction/elimination that you did.

My oldest son learned not to bet me on situations like this. I took him for a $100 bet right after he was graduated from college. He is still about $85,000 ahead on the deal with the Grampa Dave scholarship funding program for he and his brother. He's a smart kid and never bets his old man any more.

25 posted on 06/03/2002 2:27:52 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Shermy
I'm sending your template to my niece and her husband who recently moved to Tenn.. This state has become a hell hole that nurishes and attracts the really bad people.

Of course it produced the famous father son/Goron team.

26 posted on 06/03/2002 2:33:45 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: GailA
Bingo!! Somehow I think it's because of the Smith case, BUT that case and Dr. Wiley MAY be related.
27 posted on 06/03/2002 2:36:59 PM PDT by Ann Archy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GailA
Hey Yolanda...you forgot the fact that Katharine Smith got fraudulent licenses for TERRRISTS.
28 posted on 06/03/2002 2:39:32 PM PDT by Ann Archy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Could be. I just wonder what the logic was. Why go through all of that when they could have just killed the guy? Must be a message for someone higher up.
29 posted on 06/03/2002 2:57:39 PM PDT by JDGreen123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JDGreen123
How about a universal message to all who might talk, roll over and the guys/gals above.

The Black Panthers used to do stuff like this to their own and to people who tried to stop them.

Many of the old Black Panthers are now Black Muslims like Rap Brown. Same old racist killers with a new ism to cover for them. As this Jihad in America and al Fuqra stuff really starts to be exposed, we will see the American Black Muslims up to their eyeballs in support of the Islamic terrorists.

30 posted on 06/03/2002 3:05:14 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Ann Archy
This article seems to indicate that Mr. Smith was actively involved with Dr. Wiley's autopsy.

Body of Missing Biologist Found

The Workman case:

Last June, during court hearings on convicted cop killer Philip Workman's attempt to avoid execution, authorities received an anonymous letter threatening Smith. The letter accused Smith of lying and called Workman a ``LAMB OF GOD.'' ``Long have I waited for my HOLY ORDER to fight against the DOCTOR-KILLER abortionists, but now I know OUR LORD was saving me for something larger,'' it said.

I do not believe the suspect mentioned above would have stoped without killing the Doctor.

31 posted on 06/03/2002 3:06:20 PM PDT by JDGreen123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Interesting theory! From what I have read and heard, the Middle Eastern Muslims do not accept the Black Muslims as equals. The Black Muslim movement in the US started I believe in the 1920's. Maybe an alliance has been formed.
32 posted on 06/03/2002 3:09:52 PM PDT by JDGreen123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: JDGreen123; shermy, sea mole
When we started investigating the al Fuqra (Jihad in America) movements in Cali and other areas, they were linked or often controlled by Black Muslims.

The real Islamic Muslims probably laugh and sneer at them. But now the American Black Muslims are a great political tool to prevent profiling at airports and other police/investigation methods of ferreting out Islamic terrorists in America.

33 posted on 06/03/2002 3:26:27 PM PDT by Grampa Dave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Shermy; JDGreen123
And don’t forget the stories about the Doctor who “fell” off a Memphis bridge!

Thanks, Shermy, and to you too too, JDGreen123. You may both find the recent and past archived mumblings and whinings of the Memphis Da'wah Muslim group to be of interest.

-archy-/-

34 posted on 06/03/2002 3:35:19 PM PDT by archy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: GailA
Mr Pleasant is a former Marine as well as being a trained observer as an ME. No mention was made of the attacker's race. That makes me think it was a white or middle easterner. The Workman case (cop killer on death row) is another high profile case.

At this point all we can do is conjecture. I personally believe it is connected to the DD/middle easterners.

And after Workman, however it eventually turns out, yet another wonderful high-profile case that's REALLY going to cause a stink and squawking to the high heavens. I can hardly wait.

-archy-/-

35 posted on 06/03/2002 3:38:54 PM PDT by archy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: weegee
Anyone a "mob buff"? I know that there are people who like to read up on organized crime. I'm just curious if any mobs ever made it a matter of recourse to kill investigative scientiests (genetic scientists, forensic scientists, etc...). I'd think that they would steer clear of this kind of thing. A terrorist cell might have more to protect.

Memphis is very much an organized crime town, though you'd never know it to read the local papers or watch local TV stations. But both the son of mob financial wizard Meyer Lansky settled here, as did Jimmy Hoffa';s adopted son Chucky English, said to have been one of the last witnesses to see Hoffa at the Detroit northside Macchus Red Fox Restaurant, itself now also hors de combat.

After the death of Newawleans mob boss Carlo Marcello, many of the remaining former Big Easy mob family members drifted off to various corners, including Baton Rouge, Biloxi- and Memphis, some still working in the Marcello family interest, hotelry.

On most Memphis mornings many of *the boys* and their flunkies can be found at a Memphis hotel all-you-can eat buffet brunch, where the topics of the day and some business matters are discussed. But not all of them.

To the uninitiated, their table resembles a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Memphis is just *that way.*

-archy-/-

36 posted on 06/03/2002 3:48:12 PM PDT by archy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: archy
Good info but is it in any mob in the US's M.O. to kill a scientist who may be getting too nosey?

This personal attack on the forensic scientist is unusual because there was the opportunity to kill him. This was also a personal attack as opposed to the other bombs placed that put evidence from crimes under investigation at risk.

Then there was the scientist who "fell"-"jumped"-"was tossed" off the bridge. he was nosey too but it's unlikely that the mob would be too nervous about his research.

37 posted on 06/03/2002 4:06:13 PM PDT by weegee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: JDGreen123
"Of course. Tom Ridge runs around giving us vauge threats while the real thing is covered up. How many more situations like this one in Memphis have been quietly locked away from public attention?"

No telling, but count me in as one who is convinced that terrorists were involved in the Oklahoma City Murrah Bldg. Flight 800 was shot down by a missle & didn't merely break apart due to a faulty electrical fluke (puhleeze). The plane (I forgot the flight #) that crashed right after 9/11 in the NY neighborhood didn't crash due to "wind shear" (such baloney). It was blown up by another shoe bomber, IMO.

Our government has been lying to us for years. One of the worst was the lies and cover-up of the JFK assasination. My God, the Warren Commission and the Justice of the Supreme Court was part of the cover-up, so I'm not very shocked at much anymore.
38 posted on 06/03/2002 4:21:20 PM PDT by demkicker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: demkicker
Yes. The Oklahoma City evidence looks pretty solid. McVeigh and Nicholls allied with a group of Iraqis in the area. Clinton was too big of a chicken to admit the truth and face a war. He found it convenient to blame the entire operation on evil "right wingers."
39 posted on 06/03/2002 6:41:31 PM PDT by JDGreen123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: archy
Wow!!!!! Thanks for the link. A definite bookmarker. I will pass it along. Thanks again!
40 posted on 06/03/2002 6:46:14 PM PDT by JDGreen123
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson