The Case of Karmen Smith

Karmen Smith, a Delta flight attendant, was murdered inside her Georgia home in 1995 while her five-year-old son survived a brutal stabbing attack. The case remained unsolved for years before DNA evidence linked Waseem Daker to the killing.

Karmen Smith was a Delta Air Lines flight attendant and mother living in Marietta, Georgia. On November 29, 1995, she was attacked inside her home in a violent assault that left her dead and her five-year-old son critically injured. The case shocked the local community due to the brutality of the attack and the survival of Smith’s young son, who suffered multiple stab wounds. Investigators initially explored numerous leads, including scrutiny surrounding Smith’s former husband Michael Smith, but the case remained unresolved for years.

Investigators discovered Karmen Smith dead inside her residence after she had been strangled and stabbed. Her five-year-old son was also found alive despite suffering numerous stab wounds during the attack. The crime scene showed evidence of a violent struggle, and investigators collected forensic evidence including hairs and biological material that would later become critical in solving the case.

The investigation remained unsolved for over a decade as detectives pursued multiple suspects and theories. Authorities later focused on Waseem Daker, who prosecutors alleged targeted Smith as revenge connected to a former roommate who had testified against him in an earlier stalking case. Advances in DNA testing eventually linked hairs recovered from the crime scene to Daker. Prosecutors also presented evidence regarding Daker’s obsession and threats toward the roommate connected to the case.

Waseem Daker was convicted of the murder of Karmen Smith and the attempted murder of her five-year-old son. He received multiple life sentences.