Crime, controversy, and consequences define Pamela Smart’s life.

Crime, controversy, and consequences define Pamela Smart’s life.

Early Life and Education

In Coral Gables, Florida, Pamela Ann Smart was born on August 16, 1967. She moved to Derry, New Hampshire in eighth grade with her family. Smart, an accomplished student, graduated from Pinkerton Academy before attending Florida State University, where she specialised in communications and hosted “Maiden of Metal,” a college radio show. She graduated with honours in 1988.

Date Event

1967-08-16 Born in Coral Gables, Florida

1981 Moved to Derry, New Hampshire

1988 Graduated from Florida State University

She became Winnacunnet High School’s media coordinator in Hampton, New Hampshire, after college.

Marriage and the Road to Murder

Pamela married Nashua insurance agent Greggory William Smart aged 22 in 1989. Externally, their marriage looked stable, but fissures surfaced within months. Pamela began an affair with 15-year-old student William “Billy” Flynn while Gregg worked long hours.

The affair quickly became a plot. Greggory Smart was shot and killed in the couple’s condo on May 1, 1990. Murder shocked the community and necessitated a quick inquiry.

Key Individuals

Age in 1990

Involvement

Pamela Smart

22

Accused mastermind, convicted

William “Billy” Flynn

15

Shooter, convicted

Patrick Randall

16

Accomplice, held Gregg during shooting

Vance Lattime Jr.

17

Provided firearm

Raymond Fowler

17

Getaway driver

In March 1991, Pamela’s high-profile trial began after her August 1990 arrest. Being an accomplice to first-degree murder, conspiracy, and witness tampering were her convictions.

Date

Event

1990-05-01

Greggory Smart murdered

1990-08

Pamela Smart arrested

1991-03

Convicted on all major charges

1991-04

Sentenced to life in prison

Life in Prison

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in New York has held Smart since 1993. Her academic degrees and spiritual counselling and ministerial ordination were gained throughout her decades in prison.

She has denied planning her husband’s murder, but public opinion and legal rulings have stood firm. Smart admitted to “moral responsibility” for Gregg’s killing in 2023 and 2024, admitting she “helped load the gun.”

Correctional Details

Value

Facility

Bedford Hills, NY

Sentence

Life without parole

Years Served (as of 2025)

34

Degrees Earned

3 (including Doctorate)

Clemency and Denied Petitions

Pamela Smart has made multiple appeals and clemency petitions over the decades. Each one has been denied, most recently on May 29, 2025, by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, who cited the severity and calculated nature of the crime.

Year

Event

2004

First public clemency petition

2010

Petition rejected by NH Executive Council

2023–2024

Video apology and spiritual reform statements

2025-05-29

Latest clemency petition denied by governor

Greggory Smart: The Forgotten Victim

On September 4, 1965, Greggory William Smart was born. He was friendly and hard-working as an insurance agent. He was ambushed by Billy Flynn and Patrick Randall as he returned home from work on May 1, 1990.

He was 24 years old when he died.

Name

Born–Died

Role

Cause of Death

Greggory W. Smart

1965–1990

Husband, murder victim

Gunshot wound to head

Pamela’s lack of accountability and regret has led Gregg’s family, especially his uncle Jim Smart, to actively reject mercy.

Legal and Cultural Legacy

Pamela Smart’s case became viral. First U.S. murder trial televised gavel-to-gavel. She was seen as manipulative and crafty due to intensive media scrutiny.

Her story inspired the novel and film To Die For and several documentaries. The 2014 film Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart examined media bias in the coverage of the case.

Summary Table

Person Role Current Status

Pamela Smart Convicted mastermind Life without parole

Greggory Smart Victim, insurance agent Deceased (1990)

Billy Flynn Shooter, teenage lover Paroled in 2015

Patrick Randall Held Gregg during shooting Paroled in 2015

Vance Lattime Jr. Supplied weapon Paroled in 2005

Raymond Fowler Getaway driver Paroled in 2003

FAQ

Where is Pamela Smart now?

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York holds her.

Pamela Smart’s prison time?

In 2025, she will have served 34 years of life without parole.

Who killed Greggory Smart?

In 1990, 15-year-old student and Pamela’s lover William “Billy” Flynn shot Gregg.

What is Pamela Smart’s net worth?

Her assets and income are unknown, hence her net worth is low.

Has Pamela Smart admitted guilt?

She admits moral guilt but denies plotting.

Who rejected Pamela Smart’s last clemency request?

Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire declined her request in May 2025.

Where did the murder happen?

The Derry, New Hampshire Smart family condo was the murder site.

Was the Pamela Smart trial televised?

One of the first U.S. trials broadcast live from start to finish.

What degrees did Pamela Smart receive in prison?

She has various graduate degrees and a ministry doctorate.

Is Pamela Smart eligible for parole?

No, she got life without parole.