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Ax Murderer That ‘Loved Every Swing’ Convicted, Sentenced To Life In Prison
June 29, 2011
An ax murderer that told deputies “I enjoyed it; I loved every friggin’ swing” will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Nathan Gregg Smith, 26, was convicted Wednesday of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced by Judge Paul Rasmussen to life in state prison for the May 19, 2010, murder of Brian Puckett, 34.
Puckett was found dead in a home May 19 on Hollowbrook Circle, a cul-de-sac near Hillcrest Baptist Church off Nine Mile Road. Deputies believe he died after being hit in the head with an ax.
Nathan Smith’s mother, Constance Smith, told investigators that her boyfriend Puckett was dead in the garage. Deputies found Puckett’s body sitting in a chair in the garage. “They immediately noticed a large laceration to the left side of the victim’s head, and it was apparent he was deceased,” Deputy Robert Guy, Jr. wrote in his report. The report states deputies found an ax by the back door of the garage, about 10-15 feet from the victim.
Deputies found Nathan Smith asleep inside the residence. He told them that he had been out with his friend the previous night and had gotten home about midnight. He told deputies that Puckett and Constance Smith were arguing, but he went straight to his room and went to sleep.
The friend told deputies that he and Nathan Smith arrived at the residence about 2:30 a.m. At about 5 a.m., Nathan Smith went to the nearby friend’s house and stated that he had gotten into an altercation with Puckett and ” he thought he hurt him pretty bad”, the Sheriff’s Office report states.
The friend said he later received a phone call from a hysterical Constance Smith stating that Puckett was dead and that she thought her son, Nathan Smith, was in trouble. The friend told deputies that Constance Smith said that Puckett had been hit with an ax.
Nathan Smith, Constance Smith and Puckett all resided in the same house, according to deputies.
Comments
34 Responses to “Ax Murderer That ‘Loved Every Swing’ Convicted, Sentenced To Life In Prison”
Carrie- I agree that everybody has it in them to murder someone under certain circumstances, but the difference is that most of us do not act on it. Then the small percentage that does act on it, well they dont tell the judge that they “enjoyed every friggen swing”. I dont care if this man held a Silver Star. If he brutally murders someone and then shows no remorse then he should die and his “friends” should not defend him! We are not basing our oppinions off of a newspaper article, we’re basing them off of facts. The facts are he was found GUILTY by a jury of his peers and he shows no remorse. He attacked a man passed out in his chair with an ax! No amount of good will justify that!
I personally know Nate because I was stationed with him at Edwards AFB from 2005-2008. Yes, he is a veteran of our US military where he did serve in Qatar, Iraq. Maybe some of you should think about what you assume regarding someone’s character based solely on a newspaper article.
I believe there are consequences for every action as deemed appropriate and I do not condone murder. I just want people to realize that everyone in this country has the potential to be a murderer, it’s just the realization of the consequences that stop you. Maybe the perfect sequence of buttons just haven’t been pushed within you.
Wow, another murderer that gets life and we get to foot the bill!!!! SERIOUSLLY!!!! What is up with the legal system? I believe that a person who commits a cold blooded murder should be put to death the same way they did it!!! It says he got life, but he will be walking the streets in 10 years. What a sick kid to sit there and say that he enjoyed it…. Sounds like he needs some Mental help too!
@oldmarine- Attacking a man passed out with an ax from behind is NOT justifiable homicide, its cold blooded murder! If the murderer would have just whipped his butt then that would be justiable but not MURDER!
any one who says any man or woman who is convicted of murder period,and don’t get the death penalty,don’t deserve to be put to death for his/her actions is completely nuts,regardless of the situation u take a life,ur life should be taken,our government steals enough of our money now,with out haveing to feed murderers,rapeist,and child molesters,how can u feel any other way,now for this guy to do it because his mom and the guy were fussing is a little off the deep end however there must be more to it than what the media and cops are saying,just my thoughts,bring out capitol punishment for the sickos quit takeing our money to feed someone too sorry to take care of them selves
Amen! Old Marine, if some fool struck my mother, I would take his head clean off! I might dance a little jig too!
If the dead man was beating this young mans mother.
I call it justifiable homicide
I’ve read the story several times and fail to see where it said the victim was “beating” up on the woman. It does say they were ARGUING not hitting one another. A lot of couples argue but do not resort to physical violence. Maybe just a case of a drunk playing catch up for what ever reason.
He didn’t get the death penalty because there was no “caught in the act” evidence. The covering for the mother is just out there. He was telling people in jail that he did it, and they have him on tape saying he did it right after it happened. then immediately lied about it to the cops after. So if he was covering, he would have “admitted it” and never did.
He wasnt covering for his mother. Forensics have come along far enough to know who was swinging the ax. Thats just some story started to help throw doubt in peoples minds. He should be put to death for his crime and to be honest Im a little surprised he wasnt. People can say how good of guy he is and how this doesnt seem like him but bottom line is this IS something he would do and this IS an indication of what kind of guy he really IS!
This is truly a horrible thing that has happened here, I am so glad that he is off our streets and behind bars where he needs to stay the rest of his life.
Prison life will take the smirk off his face !
Lesson learned. If you get involved with a woman who has a grown son, do not beat on either one because they know where you sleep. See eaiser than everyone thought. Looks like Karma is covering this situation on all sides.
I’m not defending any form of abuse, all parties involved were arrested in the past of domestic abuse, the woman was just as guilty and drinking almost always played a large part. This was an extremely unhealthy relationship, BUT that does not excuse Nathan from coming home drunk and deciding to go out in the garage where Brian was passed out asleep and viciously murdering him, then to have such little remorse that you can go to sleep in the same home and to say he enjoyed it! That’s sick and really demented! When Connie called the police she pretended to not even know how he died, and at no time did Connie or Nathan say Brian had attacked her or anything. From what I’ve heard from Nathan’s friends they believe he his just covering for his mother and if that is the case that is really sad. Both families will suffer from this senseless act and they will never be the same!
So I see some of you defending a woman beater…. Punks! Any man that beats a woman is a punk.. He got what he deserved and so did the punk that killed him.
Littlerainy, This happened because the mother was dating a younger man? That doesn’t even make sense.
It happened because her son made the wrong choice. Maybe if he had been out on his own like he should be instead of mooching off of mommy and mommies boyfriend it wouldn’t have happened. Maybe he is what they were arguing about. None of us know.
I guess he didn’t get the death penalty because they couldn’t prove premeditation. Now tax payers have to house, clothe, feed, and provide medical care to this unremorseful murderer for the rest of his life.
Let’s get one thing VERY clear both Brian and the pathetic excuse for a mother had been arrested in the past for domestic abuse, the unhealthy behavior was most certainly not one sided! With that being said viciously murdering someone passed out asleep is sick and twisted, you can’t cry abuse and the say murder is ok! Justice was served and frankly I agree the death penalty should have been the sentence as far as I’m concerned. Brian’s family and loved ones can’t go look at him and still hear his voice, they are faced with a lifetime of missed memories and visits to cemetery! If and I personally think it’s a huge if Nathan is dumb enough to cover for his mother then that is the choice he made, Brian didn’t get a choice!
I got a budget cut. Let’s put the electric chair back to work. It will save money and clean out our prisons.
So what is with the mothers boyfriend being only 8 years older than him. That is kinda sick. Can’t help think if the parent hadn’t been involved with such a younger man maybe things would have turned out different. Because of a bad choice his mother made to have a younger boyfriend, he made a bad choice and kill a man. God have mercy on his unrepenting soul.
Death penalty is not an option with judges and juries.
Oh if it were me……murderers would be put to death………trust.
this is tragic and eerie, in light of his total lack of remorse……i hate to say it, but i am wondering if he saw the movie “sling blade”.
such a sick young man…
This is such a sad sad situation! There a two family ’s that have lost In this tragedy. I met Nate in 2007 in Calif. He seemed to be a pleasant young man,not some one who could do such a terrible thing! But when violence and alcohol are mixed bad things happen, I believe the mother should have taken her son out of this situation long before this happened! We love our mothers and fathers no matter what, Nate unfortunately is paying for his mothers choice to stay with some man beating her and her son. I am sad all is involved, my prayers are with everyone involved.I am so sorry for you Nate
@Angela- I dont think anyone would have a big problem if the kid would have beat up the moms boyfriend or blindsided him with some buddies but to kill a man with an ax from behind while he is sitting in a chair is a little to much. Then to claim that “he enjoyed every minute of it”? No sympathy here for the kid.
Come on Billy, he executed this man. He admitted to it, so the death penalty should be the only option!
The death penalty is not an option…..No matter what they do.
26 years old and LIFE in prison. So if he lives to be 72 we get to spend 46 years paying to house him. I vote death penalty. He’s got a long row to hoe so to speak. I can understand taking up for your parents if they are getting abused but the article states that the mother and boyfriend were just arguing. Most people at some point in life have an argument with a significant other. This guy obviously has issues OR there is much more to this. Either way, glad he got convicted but I support stronger sentences.
So, a man defending his mother is a “sicko” and a “monster”? What would you do if a man was beating your mother over the years? I think you are the sorry people if you would NOT defend your mother. Today is a sad day. Your friends and family support you Nate. 120 percent.
Where is the death penalty in this situation????? Oh, it is a better idea to let taxpayers feed and house this sicko for the rest of his life. Something is wrong with this picture.
I thought first degree premeditated murder carried a death sentence in Florida. Now we can foot the bill for another convict.
Life in prison … hummm…. Glad the judge got it correct but I wonder how his mother feels about his action. Anyway..it’s just another burden on us taxpayers to keep him fed & healthy for a long time to come.
What a monster, I cannot fault him on a lack of sincerity.
this is sickk.