Canvass – Smith/O'Connor neighbors
On January 7 and 8, 2023, the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department canvassed Veronica Smith's neighbors to determine if anyone saw or heard anything unusual or noteworthy on Friday, January 6, 2023.
The interviews summarized are some of the most typical or relevant to the investigation and are representative of all interviews conducted.
Butler
Name: Andrea Butler
Address: 136 Colonial Road, Oxford, MS
Mrs. Butler, age 32, lives in the residence immediately west of the Smith/O'Connor residence. Approximately 50 feet separate the houses. About Veronica Smith, Butler said, "Yes, of course, I know Dr. Smith. Thinks the world of herself, the way doctors do, and she's not even a surgeon."
Butler said she spent the day of January 6th shopping and then met her husband at a friend's home for a dinner party. Butler said she and her husband returned home after YCSD personnel had arrived at the Smith residence.
When asked about activity at the Smith/O'Connor residence, Butler said, "I haven't noticed anything unusual next door, but then I don't really pay all that much attention. I have a life, thank you very much."
Crawford
Name: Bradley Crawford
Address: 145 Colonial Road, Oxford, MS
Mr. Crawford, age 46, lives directly across the street from the Smith/O'Connor residence. He said he is on speaking terms with Smith and her family but that the two were not friends. "The trouble with Veronica was that she didn't have a dog. A nice Scottie would've made all the difference."
Crawford said he spent the day of January 6th at work and the evening at home watching a movie marathon. "Veronica could have danced naked in her front yard, and I wouldn't have noticed. Nor cared."
Duncan
Name: Lee Duncan
Address: 148 Colonial Road, Oxford, MS
Mr. Duncan, age 55, lives in the residence immediately east of the Smith/O'Connor residence. Approximately 40 feet separate the houses. "I know the family. Terrible what happened, especially them having the little girl. She plays a lot in my yard because of the oak. She's a good kid."
Duncan was home on the evening of the 6th but said his wife Mari, age 20, was gone all weekend. When asked when she would be available for an interview, Duncan said, "My wife wasn't exactly friends with Dr. Smith. It's hard to imagine anyone could be close to the woman. She was very focused inward, if you know what I mean."
When asked to elaborate, Duncan said, "I don't know how many times I complained about her garage door opener. It interferes with my ham radio equipment, and they're in and out all the time over there, at least until you people showed up. But did she care how it affected me? All Dr. Smith ever seemed to care about was herself."
