Overview
- Isaac Smith was sentenced Tuesday to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole after his conviction on two counts of first-degree murder for the 2021 deaths of Karli Short and her unborn child.
- Prosecutors told jurors Smith killed Short because he feared the pregnancy would upend his life and relationship, a claim that underpinned the prosecution’s case at trial.
- DNA testing introduced at trial established that Smith was not the father of the fetus, a fact the Short family described as a small reprieve amid their loss.
- Karli Short’s family delivered emotional victim-impact statements in court and said the sentence brought justice while continuing their work through the Karli Short Better Tomorrow Foundation to support students affected by gun violence.
- Defense attorneys said they are reviewing options and have not ruled out an appeal, and Smith declined to speak at the sentencing hearing.