Daniel Wayne Smith

Daniel Wayne Smith
Born (1986-01-22)January 22, 1986
Mexia, Texas, U.S.
Died September 10, 2006(2006-09-10) (aged 20)
Nassau, Bahamas
Parent(s) Billy Wayne Smith
Anna Nicole Smith
Relatives Dannielynn Birkhead (half-sister)

Daniel Wayne Smith (January 22, 1986 – September 10, 2006) was the son of the American model and actress Anna Nicole and Billy Wayne Smith. He occasionally appeared in his mother's E! Network reality TV show.

Life

Smith was born in Mexia, Limestone County, Texas, to Billy Wayne Smith and Vickie Lynn Hogan (later known as Anna Nicole Smith). After his parents separated in 1987, Daniel was raised by his mother and maternal grandmother, Virgie Mae Arthur, until he was six years old. He spent his childhood in a variety of different private schools.[1] He was the stepson of J. Howard Marshall II, whom his mother met at a strip club and married in 1994.

At age 16, Smith was featured as himself on his mother's reality television series, The Anna Nicole Show, which ran on the E! Entertainment Television channel from 2002 to 2004. The show's makeup artist remembered him as "a shy, sweet kid" and that his mother often worried that the camera crews were upsetting him.[1] He was always shown in the opening credits, but his actual appearances were minimal. In a second-season episode he would mention that he no longer wanted to be part of the show. He was also seen with his mother in E! True Hollywood Story. Daniel played bit parts in two of his mother's films, Skyscraper and To the Limit. Described by Anna as a straight-A honor student,[2] he had last been attending classes at Los Angeles Valley College in the summer of 2006.[1]

Death

Smith died in his mother's hospital room while visiting her at the maternity ward in Doctors Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas, on September 10, 2006, just three days after she had given birth to his half-sister, Dannielynn Hope Marshall.[3] Cyril Wecht, an American forensic pathologist, stated Daniel Smith accidentally overdosed on methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro. On an episode of True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, Larry Birkhead stated that security in the house indicated that Smith had stolen his mother's methadone. On September 11, 2006, Reginald Ferguson, assistant commissioner of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, told reporters that Smith was found sitting upright in a chair.

On September 18, Getty Images sold the last photos taken of Smith alive at his mother's bedside to In Touch Weekly, Entertainment Tonight, and The Insider for a total of at least US$650,000.[4]

Investigation

Her Majesty's Coroner, Linda P. Virgill, announced on September 12 that "The cause of death is not natural. However, we wish to reserve the cause of death at this time pending the toxicologist examination and report for confirmation of cause of death. Friday is the likely release date for the autopsy and toxicology report" Virgill announced that an inquest would take place. "The inquest would happen late October or early November to determine how, when and by what manner Daniel came to his death." "All persons who are relevant witnesses, like his mother and hospital staff and airline personnel who had contact with him, would have to testify"[5][6]

The following day, Bradley Neely, the chief inspector of the coroner's office, told the Associated Press that death seemed "suspicious". "Whenever there is a suspicious death we would have an inquest to determine how the person died,"[7] Coroner Linda Virgill held a September 13 news conference and said a coroner's inquest would begin October 23. She described the death as "suspicious" because it was sudden and because Daniel was only 20 years old and very young, clarifying earlier statements by saying that it was "unnatural" for a man of 20 to die suddenly. She cautioned that the scheduling of an inquest did not necessarily mean foul play was suspected. "Whenever we have sudden deaths, and we term them 'suspicious deaths,' it is usual to have this type of procedure," The death would be considered suspicious until jurors determine otherwise according to Virgill.[8]

On September 14, an attorney, Michael Scott, read a prepared statement. "The devastation and grief over Daniel's sudden death coupled with the sedation has been so extreme that Anna Nicole experienced memory loss of the event," "Anna Nicole was so distraught at the loss of Daniel that she refused to leave his side and it was necessary to sedate her in order to check her out of the hospital," Scott said that the third person in the room at the time of the death was another one of Anna Nicole Smith's attorneys, Howard K. Stern. It "was necessary for Howard to tell Anna again that Daniel had passed away".[9] Mr. Scott was a partner in the law firm Callenders and Co. and would later reveal that he had been asked by the real estate developer G. Ben Thompson and an associate, who he said were friends of Ms. Smith, to act on her behalf after the sudden death of her 20-year-old son Daniel.[10] Scott, Callenders and Co., and G. Ben Thompson were to figure prominently as Anna Nicole Smith's adversaries in the highly politicized Bahamian residency scandal surrounding her disputed home ownership.

On September 20, authorities issued a death certificate for the son of Anna Nicole Smith but left the cause of death undetermined pending toxicology tests. Scott was severely critical of Coroner Linda P. Virgill press statements. "Unless she's psychic or God, unless the pathologists know the cause of death, how does she?" He said that Bahamians worried that the highly publicized case was affecting the island chain's image. "We are all aware of what happened in Aruba. We are all aware of what happened to Natalee Holloway," "We don't want that to happen in this jurisdiction."[11]

Funeral in the Bahamas

Howard K. Stern told Florida Circuit Judge Larry Seidlin during his testimony in the Anna Nicole Smith's body custody trial: "At Daniel's funeral, she had them open the coffin and tried to climb inside. She said that "If Daniel has to be buried, I want to be buried with him," Stern testified. "She was ready to go down with him."[12] Howard K. Stern revealed that "Anna saw herself as both mother and father to Daniel. From the time I met her, everything was for Daniel. I would say that physically, she died last week, but in a lot of ways, emotionally she died when Daniel died," he added.[13][14]

On October 7, Daniel's friends and family, including his father Billy Smith and grandmother Virgie Arthur, gathered at the First Baptist Church of Mexia for a separate memorial service while Anna Nicole remained with Howard K. Stern in the Bahamas. Daniel was eulogized at the service by his great-grandfather Gus Moser.[15] Daniel was finally buried at New Providence, Bahamas, on October 19, 2006.[16] According to Howard K. Stern, Smith's long-time companion, she was devastated over her son's death. "Anna and Daniel were inseparable. Daniel was without question the most important person in Anna’s life."

Independent autopsy and inquest

Dr. Cyril Wecht was hired by Callenders and Co., a Bahamian law firm, to do an independent autopsy.[17] Wecht stated Daniel Smith died as a result of the interaction of methadone, an analgesic, and the antidepressants Zoloft and Lexapro. The metabolism and the breakdown of the methadone is delayed in the presence of Zoloft, according to Wecht. Methadone can alter the cardiac rhythm – it’s referred to as a prolongation of the QT interval. "When that is prolonged, the individual could even lose consciousness, and suffer cardiac dysrhythmia. And that is something that can happen from methadone alone, and in the presence of Zoloft and Lexapro, it is more likely to happen," "I don’t mean frequently, and certainly not predictably, so tragically, with this young man this is what happened. So I have no question at all as to the cause of death."[18][19]

Wecht later told the press that he had not been paid. He told the Bahama Journal that he had originally been contacted by Michael Scott, and was ostensibly working with him and Tracey Ferguson (of Callenders and Co.). Scott and Ferguson dropped out of the picture, and attorney Wayne Munroe took over Ms. Smith’s representation. "I believe, quite frankly, that there has been some breakdown in communication, and quite possibly some antagonism. Scott and Ferguson were representing real estate developer G. Ben Thompson in an action against Anna Nicole Smith over her house in the Bahamas.[20]

On February 8, 2007, Wecht said on Fox News that there was still no information available as to how Daniel obtained methadone. Although methadone is prescribed in place of other opioids for pain relief and is used in the treatment of heroin and morphine addiction, Wecht had said he had no information to make any conclusion about why Daniel was using it.[21] On February 14, it was reported that his mother Anna Nicole Smith had been given a prescription for methadone under a false name while she was in her eighth month of pregnancy.[22] Ford Shelley claimed that methadone was found in Anna's bedroom refrigerator while her Bahamas mansion was being reclaimed by his father-in-law, real estate developer G. Ben Thompson.[23]

Assistant Commissioner Reginald Ferguson has confirmed that the Royal Bahamian Police has completed its investigation and has sent their file to the Attorney General.[16] The Chief Magistrate of the Bahamas announced that a formal inquiry into the death of Daniel Smith was scheduled for March 27, 2007.[24]

Anna Nicole Smith estate

Anna Nicole Smith died suddenly on February 8, 2007, less than five months after her son's death. A Florida circuit court judge, Larry Seidlin, who oversaw the disposition of Smith's body, ordered Anna Nicole Smith's will produced. It was released on February 16, 2007.[25][26] The "Will of Vickie Lynn Marshall" was signed on July 30, 2001 and declares:

I am unmarried. I have one child DANIEL WAYNE SMITH. I have no deceased children nor predeceased children leaving issue. Except as otherwise provided in this Will, I have intentionally omitted to provide for my spouse and other heirs, including future spouses and children and other descendants now living and those hereafter born or adopted, as well as existing and future stepchildren and foster children.

All of the property of my estate ... shall be distributed to HOWARD K. STERN, Esq., to hold in trust for my child under such terms as he and a court of competent jurisdiction may declare, such that my children are distributed sufficient sums...and support according to their accustomed manner of living....[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Who was Daniel Wayne Smith?". Newsday. Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved 2006-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Anna Nicole Smith's Son Dies". Larry King Live. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
  3. ↑ "Anna Nicole's Son Dies, Daughter Is Born". People. Retrieved 2006-09-11.
  4. ↑ "Nicole Smith's son's last pictures make her $650,000 richer". South Asian Women's Forum News. Retrieved 2006-09-19.
  5. ↑ Linda Trischitta (2006-09-12). "Anna Nicole's Son: Death Was Not Natural". people.com. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  6. ↑ Stephen M. Silverman (2006-09-12). "Anna Nicole Smith 'Tried to Wake' Her Son". people.com. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  7. ↑ Gina Serpe (2006-09-13). "Anna Nicole Grieves "Suspicious" Death". eonline. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  8. ↑ John Marquis (2006-09-14). "Bahamas inquest set in death of Anna Nicole's son". Reuters. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  9. ↑ JESSICA ROBERTSON (2006-09-14). "Lawyer Says Smith Tried to Revive Son". Associated Press. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  10. ↑ Quincy Parker (2006-10-30). "Attorney Says Immigration Minister Should Resign". The Bahama Journal. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  11. ↑ "She's much better," he told the AP. "You never get over that, you get through it. Time is the catalyst for that."At this time he added that Anna Nicole Smith has been granted permanent residency in the Bahamas."Authorities issue death certificate for Anna Nicole Smith's son". AP. 2006-09-21. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  12. ↑ "Howard K. Stern says Anna wanted to be buried next to her son". recordonline.com. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  13. ↑ "Howard K. Stern: Anna was my whole world". people.com. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  14. ↑ "Howard K. Stern talks Father's Day". Art Harris:The Bald Truth. Retrieved 2007-06-16.
  15. ↑ "Mexia says goodbye to celebrity son". The Waco Tribune-Herald. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
  16. 1 2 "Funeral Held for Anna Nicole Smith's Son". People. Retrieved 2006-10-19.
  17. ↑ Quincy Parker (2007-01-23). "Anna Nicole May Not Pay Callenders". The Bahama Journal. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  18. ↑ Nicole Weisensee Egan (2006-09-28). "Pathologist: Meds Killed Daniel Smith". People (people.com). Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  19. ↑ Quincy Parker (2006-11-27). "Pathologist Ready To Testify If Needed". The Bahama Journal (Bahamas News Online Edition). Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  20. ↑ Quincy Parker (2006-11-21). "Anna Nicole’s Pathologist Says He Hasn’t Been Paid". The Bahama Journal (Bahamas News Online Edition). Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  21. ↑ "Pathologist: 'Classical' drug combo killed Smith's son". CNN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
  22. ↑ "The Doctor Who Scored Methadone for Anna Nicole". TMZ. Retrieved 2006-02-14.
  23. ↑ "Did Methadone Contribute To Anna's Death?". CBS News. Retrieved 2006-02-12.
  24. ↑ "Inquiry set in death of Daniel Smith". 9 News. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
  25. ↑ Balogh, Stefanie (2007-02-18). "Anna's daughter left out". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-02-18.
  26. ↑ "Anna Nicole Smith's will leaves everything to dead son". CNN. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  27. ↑ "Will of Vickie Lynn Marshall" (pdf). 2001-07-30. Retrieved 2007-02-22.

External links

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