Homicide; Mile 4.5 Old Glenn Highway
Update on 7/12/24:
From the Attorney General’s Office:
Today, Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby sentenced Brian Steven Smith, 53, to 226 years in prison for the murders of Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk.
Smith was convicted in February of 14 counts including two counts of Murder in the First Degree. A jury also found him guilty of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Misconduct Involving a Corpse.
Homicide detectives with the Anchorage Police Department were alerted about a murder when a woman in possession of Smith’s phone shared videos with them from Smith’s phone. The video along with photos found on the device showed that Smith had tortured a then unknown woman before killing her, disposing of her body, and attempting to hide the evidence.
Further investigation resulted in the victim, murdered in 2019, being identified as 30-year-old Kathleen Jo Henry. While he was being questioned, Smith admitted to killing a second victim, a year prior in 2018. That woman was identified as 52-year-old Veronica Abouchuk.
Family members and members of the community gathered in the courtroom for the sentencing, and Veronica Abouchuk’s daughter provided a statement wishing that Smith would live the rest of his life with no hope. In handing down the lengthy sentence advocated for by the State, Judge Saxby said, “There is no hope. There is no restoration. There is only preventing Mr. Smith from killing again.”
The case was tried by Anchorage District Attorney Brittany Dunlop and Deputy District Attorney Heather Nobrega before Superior Court Judge Kevin Saxby.
Update on 2/26/24:
From the Attorney General’s Office:
Feb. 22, 2024 (Anchorage, AK) – Today, an Anchorage Jury found Brian Steven Smith, 53, guilty of fourteen counts including two counts of Murder in the First Degree for the murders of Kathleen Jo Henry and Veronica Abouchuk. They also found him guilty of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, Tampering with Evidence and Misconduct Involving a Corpse.
Homicide detectives with the Anchorage Police Department were alerted about a murder when a woman shared video with them from Smith’s phone. The video along with photos found on the device showed that Smith had tortured the then unknown woman before killing her, disposing of her body, and attempting to hide the evidence.
Further investigation resulted in the victim being identified as Kathleen Jo Henry. While he was being questioned, Smith admitted to killing a second victim, a year prior. That woman was identified as Veronica Abouchuk. The jury was presented with Smith’s lengthy and detailed confession with investigators as well as videos of Kathleen Jo Henry’s murder, and videos of Veronica Abouchuk before and after her murder.
After delivering their verdicts, the jury also found Smith guilty of an aggravating factor that he had subjected Kathleen Jo Henry to substantial physical torture. That aggravating factor will subject Smith to a mandatory 99-year sentence on the murder of Henry. For Abouchuk’s murder he faces a sentence of 30-99 years. Sentencing is scheduled for July 12 and July 19, 2024.
Update:
On 4/10/19 around 4:45 p.m., our partners with the Alaska State Troopers were notified about human remains found near mile 4.5 of the Old Glenn Highway. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner.
On 10/8/19, Brian Smith was arrested for a homicide that occurred in September 2018. Click here for additional details: https://local.nixle.com/alert/7576428/ . During the investigation, detectives determined the suspect was responsible for the disappearance and death of Veronica Abouchuk.
On October 11th, 2019, the human remains were identified as the victim. This investigation was changed to a homicide investigation.
Today, our partners with the Alaska Department of Law indicted the suspect in this homicide investigation. He faces multiple charges including Murder 1 and Murder 2.
Original 7/18/19 12:15 p.m.:
Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 53-year-old Veronica R. Abouchuk. Abouchuk is homeless; family last saw her in July 2018. Abouchuk was last seen at Bean’s Café in October 2018. Family’s efforts to locate Abouchuk have been unsuccessful.
Abouchuk is 5’04” tall, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding Abouchuk’s whereabouts is asked to call Police Dispatch at 3-1-1 (option #1).
APD Case 19-5248
