F.B.I. Says Arson Killed Woman Accused in License Scheme

New York Times ^ | Friday, February 15, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

February 15, 2002

F.B.I. Says Arson Killed Woman Accused in License Scheme

By REUTERS

EMPHIS, Feb. 14 — A deliberately set fire caused the death of a driver's license examiner who had been accused of illegally selling licenses to five Middle Eastern men who were being investigated for possible ties to terrorism, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has said.

Gasoline was poured on the clothing of the examiner, Katherine Smith, before she burned to death on Sunday in an automobile accident, J. Suzanne Nash, an F.B.I. agent, said on Wednesday.

Ms. Smith died one day before she was to have appeared in court with her five co-defendants after being arrested last week on charges of conspiracy to obtain driver's licenses illegally.

In a federal court hearing here on Wednesday, Ms. Nash said an accelerant had been found in Ms. Smith's car, adding that her death was "not an accident."

Investigators have said the gasoline tank of the automobile did not explode. Ms. Nash also said witnesses had reported that the interior of Ms. Smith's car was on fire before the vehicle struck a utility pole, causing just minor damage to the car.

Ms. Nash told the court on Monday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was looking into whether the five men who were arrested had ties to terrorist groups, citing connections to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

The five men, one of whom said he was a plumber at the trade center and had a visitor's pass to the towers dated Sept. 5, are being held without bond.

A lawyer for one of the defendants has denied that they had any connection to terrorism and said they were seeking documentation to work in the United States.

[weegee]

I'll bet that these 2 guys are happy now that they were denied bond this week. Certainly would be tough having to prove your whereabouts with something like this happening.

Mostafa Said Abou-Shahin, left, and Abdelmuhsen Mahmid Hammad leave federal court Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 13, 2002, in Memphis, Tenn., after being ordered held without bond on charges of conspiracy to obtain Tennessee driver's licenses under false pretenses. Katherine Smith, a driver's license examiner, was also charged in the case. Smith, 49, was found burned beyond recognition in her car about 1 a.m. Sunday on a highway about 20 miles from her home and burned beyond recognition. Witnesses told the FBI that the car was ablaze before Smith drove into a utility pole. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[Grampa Dave]

You posted, What American in his right mind would help 'mid-easterners' get fraudlent documents after 911?

A very greedy one at the least. Maybe in this case, a very greedy one who hated America/Americans as much as the terrorists!

[Inge_CAV]

"What American in his right mind would help 'mid-easterners' get fraudlent documents after 911?"

Traitors, and nothing else.

[Grampa Dave]

This is a warning to all Freepers in Tenn..

You and your family members may be in serious danger due to the PC mediots in Tenn., not covering this story as a real issue.

If you live in Tenn., you and other Freepers need to bring incredible pressure on your local politicians and the media to start covering this really dangerous situation. Burying coverage of this story on a back section of a fish wrap in the middle of that section is criminal and abetting the dangerous murderers of this woman.

You can link to the history of Jihad in America to see how terrorists are home grown or trained to support the terrorists from the middle east. You need to get these documented stories to your legislatures and any responsible media if there is any in Tenn..

[Inge_CAV]

"2 of the men admit to being in NYC on or before Sept 11th, one of them working as a plumber on the sprinker system in the WTC just days before the attack"

To many coincidences in this murder case is an understatement.

[Spook86]

I live near Memphis...this event has been the big story in the Mid-South area for the past three days. As others have pointed out, the exact cause of death has not been determined. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Ms. Smith was alive when the fire began in her car. It's also worth noting that the fire apparently began in the car's passenger comparment--highly unusual for a car fire. The engine compartment ignited only after the car's interior burned. The gas tank remains intact--again, very unusual for a vehicle fire.

One more sidelight: one of the local TV stations (WREG, the CBS affiliate) went to the apartment complex where two of those Middle Eastern men lived. One of the men shared an apartment with another Middle Easterner, and had for at least the past six months. The roomate told the reporter he knew nothing of his friend's activites, including the trip to New York last September. And, something that's missing from the Reuters account, the dead license examiner purchased her car--the same one she died in--from one of the men now in custody.

One final note: TN drivers licenses are very attractive for criminals and terrorists. Last year, the state removed the requirement that applicants had to show a social security card to obtain a driver's license. Ironically, the legislature made this change specifically to "help" immigrants. Lawmakers need to close this loophole, but there's a lot of concern about how many licenses may have been obtained, and the potential involvement of other persons.

It's also worth noting that FBI involment in this case is growing expotentially. I have a few casual contacts in law enforcement. From what they know, this is now an FBI show, with only peripheral work from the TN State Police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. One Memphis cop I know estimates there are "at least" 100 FBI agents working this case full-time, with more on the way.

There is growing suspicion--still not fully confirmed--that a possible Al Qaeda support cell was at work in the Mid-South. I'm not sure I ready to climb out on that limb (yet), but this is much more than an isolated criminal enterprise.

[ValerieUSA]

Even if she died in a deliberately set fire, "arson" didn't kill her - a murderer killed her.

[Grampa Dave]

You might want to index this under your Jihad in America section!

Sounds like Tn may be more dangerous than Kali with our home grown terrorists, those who support terrorists and last but not least, the terrorists themselves!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I was thinking about that, but wondered if this was really that strongly tied to the Jihad group?

I guess it makes sense to put it on the list since it is a very strong possibility!

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[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for including this as a probable tie in.

I'm sure that if we knew the full story, our old friends here in Kali and their international/homeland links have direct ties to these arsonist terrorists.

[Travis McGee]

One Memphis cop I know estimates there are "at least" 100 FBI agents working this case full-time, with more on the way.

About time!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Another coincidence I am sure. Those innocent "Religion of Peace" boys are just on a run of bad luck, like working in the WTC, and visiting it the week before 9-11.

Right!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Thanks for the great update.

[Travis McGee]

It's right out of a Bruce Willis movie, isn't it?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I think you pulled a quote from somebody else's comment and attributed it to me.

I'm not quibling with your quible but just wondering if you intended the comment for another freeper?

[ValerieUSA]

The quote was the headline - I wasn't quibbling with anyone except the reporter (whom you mentioned wasn't to be trusted). F.B.I. Says Arson Killed Woman Accused in License Scheme

[Tymesup]

Katherine Smith looks black to me. Picture here, post 27

[Victoria Delsoul]

Pretty much so.

[razorback-bert]

She is.

Is Katherine Smith a Black Muslim?

That would explain how she is a friend of Khaled Odtllah.