In the quiet town of Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, a heartbreaking mystery has haunted the community for over a decade. It is a tale of a young mother, Kelly Nicole Smith, whose life was tragically cut short in the prime of her youth. A story that has left a family seeking answers and a community grappling with the dark cloud of an unsolved murder.
Kelly was born on April 24, 1980, to loving parents John and Karen Godfrey. She grew up in Natrona Heights, a small town located 24 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Known for her infectious smile, she graduated from Highlands High School in 1998 and worked as an administrative assistant at Glenshaw Glass.
Kelly was a devoted mother to her daughter, Katlyn, and son, Jason. At the time of her death, she was still legally married to Jason W. Smith, her husband of approximately six to ten years. However, their relationship had been strained following a recent miscarriage, and they were separated at the time. Kelly had found solace in the arms of an old high school friend, Chad Stroup, whom she had reconnected with and was living with at the time of her untimely demise.
On the fateful night of June 13, 2007, Kelly had a heated argument with Chad. In the early hours of the following morning, she made a tearful phone call to her husband, which was suddenly cut off. This would be the last time anyone heard from Kelly. In the hours that followed, her husband and mother frantically tried to reach her,only to find that she had vanished without a trace.
The following day, two fishermen made a chilling discovery in the Chartiers Run section of the Allegheny River in Lower Burrell, just two miles from Natrona Heights. Kelly’s lifeless body was found floating in the murky waters, a gruesome end to a life so full of promise.
As the news of Kelly’s death spread, the small community was left reeling. How could something so horrifying happen to someone so loved and full of life? The authorities launched an investigation, interviewing Kelly’s husband, boyfriend, and others who were close to her. Among those questioned was a male friend who had allegedly developed a fondness for Kelly in the days leading up to her death.
In an eerie twist, it was reported that the police were seeking to speak with as many as five people who had been parked near the Braeburn side of Lock and Dam No. 4 on the night of June 13, 2007. These individuals, arriving in a light-colored pickup truck and a dark car, were believed to have been in the area where Kelly’s body was later discovered. However, their connection to the case remains unknown.
In a shocking turn of events, Chad Stroup, Kelly’s boyfriend, fled the state shortly after her funeral, which took place on Father’s Day. His mother reported him missing, and police eventually caught up with him in Texas. Although the authorities managed to speak with Chad, the details of their conversation and any information he may have provided remain undisclosed. Chad has never been officially named as a suspect in the case.
Over the years, Kelly’sfamily has been left with more questions than answers. Her mother, Karen, has expressed her frustration with the lack of progress in the investigation and has questioned whether important evidence may have been lost due to initial misinterpretations of the crime scene. Kelly’s cause of death has never been made public, leaving the family to wonder what horrors their beloved daughter and sister may have faced in her final moments.
Despite the passage of time, Kelly’s family has refused to give up hope of finding answers. They have continued to raise awareness about her case, offering a $20,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of her killer. They believe that someone out there holds the key to solving the mystery, and they hope that the promise of a reward might encourage someone to finally come forward and break their silence.
Meanwhile, the town of Brackenridge remains shrouded in a veil of intrigue and suspicion. Neighbors eye one another warily, wondering who among them could be harboring a terrible secret. Friendships have been tested, and allegiances have shifted as the unanswered questions surrounding Kelly’s death continue to cast a shadow over the community.
In the years since Kelly’s murder, the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office has seen changes in leadership. The current District Attorney, Nicole Ziccarelli, has committed to taking a fresh look at the case, adding new detectives and prosecutors to the investigative team. Despite the challenges that the passage of time presents, there remains a glimmer of hope that justice may finally be served.
Deep Lore 