Todd Smith, an American journalist, was killed in Peru in November 1989. [1] [2] Smith was the first foreign journalist to be killed in Peru's internal conflict. [3]
Smith was born in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] He graduated from Washington and Lee University with an English degree in 1983. [3] [4] He worked at the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune, in addition to freelance reporting work. [1] In 1987 he spent 10 weeks traveling with the Nicaraguan Contras, publishing a series in the St. Petersburg Times and the San Francisco Chronicle on his return. [3]
Smith's body was found near the town of Uchiza in the Upper Huallaga Valley. [1] He had travelled there to investigate links between Shining Path guerrillas and cocaine traffickers, both of which were common in the area. [1] [2] He was 28. [1] A wooden sign was found near his body reading: "In this way die North American spies linked to the Pentagon who are carrying out an anti-subversive plan in Latin America and especially in Peru. Death to the North American imperialism. Long live the Communist Party. Long live the war of the people." [3]
Washington and Lee University established a fellowship in Smith's name in 1990. [4]
In April 1993 a secret counterterrorism court convicted Shining Path member José Manrique of taking part in the murder and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment. [2] Manrique was released early under unclear circumstances. [2] Transcripts from the trial that were leaked in 2004 implicated the drug trafficker Fernando Zevallos in the killing. [2]
- ^ a b c d e Masters, Kim. U.S. REPORTER'S UNFINISHED STORY. Washington Post. November 22, 1989
- ^ a b c d e Vecchio, Rick. New twist in murder case. Associated Press. December 13, 2004
- ^ a b c d e Tampa Tribune reporter killed in Peru. UPI. November 22, 1989
- ^ a b Hanna, Jeff. "Remembering Todd Smith." The Columns. November 26, 2009.
Todd Smith, an American journalist, was killed in Peru in November 1989. [1] [2] Smith was the first foreign journalist to be killed in Peru's internal conflict. [3]
Smith was born in Jacksonville, Florida. [3] He graduated from Washington and Lee University with an English degree in 1983. [3] [4] He worked at the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune, in addition to freelance reporting work. [1] In 1987 he spent 10 weeks traveling with the Nicaraguan Contras, publishing a series in the St. Petersburg Times and the San Francisco Chronicle on his return. [3]
Smith's body was found near the town of Uchiza in the Upper Huallaga Valley. [1] He had travelled there to investigate links between Shining Path guerrillas and cocaine traffickers, both of which were common in the area. [1] [2] He was 28. [1] A wooden sign was found near his body reading: "In this way die North American spies linked to the Pentagon who are carrying out an anti-subversive plan in Latin America and especially in Peru. Death to the North American imperialism. Long live the Communist Party. Long live the war of the people." [3]
Washington and Lee University established a fellowship in Smith's name in 1990. [4]
In April 1993 a secret counterterrorism court convicted Shining Path member José Manrique of taking part in the murder and sentenced him to 30 years imprisonment. [2] Manrique was released early under unclear circumstances. [2] Transcripts from the trial that were leaked in 2004 implicated the drug trafficker Fernando Zevallos in the killing. [2]
- ^ a b c d e Masters, Kim. U.S. REPORTER'S UNFINISHED STORY. Washington Post. November 22, 1989
- ^ a b c d e Vecchio, Rick. New twist in murder case. Associated Press. December 13, 2004
- ^ a b c d e Tampa Tribune reporter killed in Peru. UPI. November 22, 1989
- ^ a b Hanna, Jeff. "Remembering Todd Smith." The Columns. November 26, 2009.