Murder of Todd Smith

Todd Smith, an American journalist, was killed in Peru in November 1989.[1][2] Smith was the first foreign journalist to be killed in Peru's internal conflict.[3]

Life and career

Smith was born in Jacksonville, Florida.[3] He graduated from Washington and Lee University with an English degree in 1983.[3][4] He worked at the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune, in addition to freelance reporting work.[1] In 1987 he spent 10 weeks traveling with the Nicaraguan Contras, publishing a series in the St. Petersburg Times and the San Francisco Chronicle on his return.[3]

Murder

Smith's body was found near the town of Uchiza in the Upper Huallaga Valley.[1] He had travelled there to investigate links between Shining Path guerrillas and cocaine traffickers, both of which were common in the area.[1][2] He was 28.[1] A wooden sign was found near his body reading: "In this way die North American spies linked to the Pentagon who are carrying out an anti-subversive plan in Latin America and especially in Peru. Death to the North American imperialism. Long live the Communist Party. Long live the war of the people."[3]

Aftermath

Washington and Lee University established a fellowship in Smith's name in 1990.[4]

In April 1993 a secret counterterrorism court convicted Shining Path member José Manrique of taking part in the murder and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment.[2] Manrique was released early under unclear circumstances.[2] Transcripts from the trial that were leaked in 2004 implicated the drug trafficker Fernando Zevallos in the killing.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Masters, Kim. U.S. REPORTER'S UNFINISHED STORY. Washington Post. November 22, 1989
  2. ^ a b c d e Vecchio, Rick. New twist in murder case. Associated Press. December 13, 2004
  3. ^ a b c d e Tampa Tribune reporter killed in Peru. UPI. November 22, 1989
  4. ^ a b Hanna, Jeff. "Remembering Todd Smith." The Columns. November 26, 2009.