State v. Smith

WELBORN, Commissioner.

Consolidated appeals from two judgments of conviction, on jury verdicts, for murder in the first degree, with consecutive life sentences.

On the night of October 31, 1969, Her-mine Rohs, her son, Willy, and Willy’s wife, Marilyn, were stabbed to death by intruders in Mrs. Rohs’ apartment in St. Louis. Various items of personal property were stolen from the victims and the women were raped.

Clues at the scene of the crimes led officers to Edward Johnson who had previously done some odd jobs for Mrs. Rohs. Johnson was arrested and information obtained by police led to the…