Cops: Murder suspect may have killed himself

WESTERN Division police hunting for a 34-year-old father of three in connection with the murder of his 35-year-old wife Nadine Smith, believe he may have killed himself. Smith was found in the bedroom of her home on Monday afternoon with her head beaten in. Police believe her killer used a claw hammer.

On Tuesday a manhunt was launched for the Caridoc worker (not a Chaguaramas Development Authority employee, as previously reported). Police went to his mother's house at Bagatelle, Diego Martin, where she told them she last saw him a month ago.

She said she knew her son and Smith were having domestic issues but never thought it would lead to murder. She pleaded with police to find her son but feared he might have taken his life. Investigators learned that Smith and the man became romantically involved when she was 14.

The couple began having domestic problems and were often heard quarrelling at their Dibe, Long Circular Road, home. Police believe Smith was killed on Sunday night, but her body was found on Monday afternoon by her nine-year-old daughter, who told neighbours.

The child, a private-school student, and her two siblings, 11 and five, are expected to receive counselling. Yesterday, Western Division police continued the hunt for the suspect.

Newsday spoke to Smith's brother Anslem Smith at the Forensic Science Centre. He said the autopsy revealed his sister died of blunt force trauma, and described her as a loving, caring woman who put her children before everything else.

Smith also said that family members were in a state of shock after learning of Nadine's murder and saw no signs that she was the victim of domestic abuse.

"From the outside everything looked normal. She never confided in me or any of her family about any abuse or violence in the home. This was all very shocking to all of us," Smith said.
(Additional reporting by Shane Superville)