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In a solemn courtroom in Washington, Army Ranger Patrick Philip Byrne received a 20-year prison sentence for the murder of 42-year-old security guard Denise Smith in 2021. The sentencing took place on May 10 in Pierce County Superior Court, following Byrne’s guilty plea to first-degree murder on March 15.
The tragic event unfolded after Byrne, then 26, had been drinking heavily at a local bar. According to Tacoma Police Department reports, Byrne assaulted Smith violently for 10 minutes at the building where she worked, employing brutal methods including strangulation and stabbing with keys. Surveillance footage suggested a horrifying scene where Byrne attempted to blind Smith before ultimately choking her to death.
During the sentencing, Byrne’s defense highlighted his lack of recollection of the murder, attributing this to a head injury sustained from a fall shortly after the attack. This injury, claimed to have occurred when Byrne fell off a landing, was part of a series of traumatic events that also included a bar fight earlier that evening, where Byrne was punched in the head. Despite these claims, Byrne confessed to not remembering the incident from the fight until he awoke in the hospital.
Byrne’s attorney, David Katayama, presented arguments that Byrne’s actions were influenced by multiple traumatic brain injuries, some sustained during his military service, which impacted his aggression and decision-making capabilities. Nevertheless, the prosecution maintained that Byrne’s decision to drink excessively played a critical role in his subsequent actions.
Denise Smith, who had only recently started her job and worked a few shifts before the incident, was remembered by her father, Charles Reagins, a U.S. military veteran himself, in heart-wrenching court documents. Reagins expressed profound sorrow and pride in his daughter, describing the attack as “brutal, savage, harsh, cruel, unnecessary and worthless.”
As the legal proceedings concluded with Byrne’s sentencing, the military is also taking steps to separate him from service. Byrne was an active-duty member of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, until the trial’s end.
Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Howe reflected on the nature of the case, stating, “Mr. Byrne took responsibility for his devastating actions, but no amount of punishment can make up for the value of Denise Smith’s life and humanity.” He emphasized that in such tragic cases, there are no winners, only shared sadness and loss.
This case leaves a community mourning a senseless act of violence and a family grieving the loss of a loved one, spotlighting the often complex interplay of personal accountability, mental health issues, and the lasting impacts of traumatic injuries.
Source: Army Times
