Repository Collection 03
Murder Witness Claims Intimidation
ARTICLE SOURCE ENTRY
Last Revised • July 7, 2026
This Source Verification Page documents an Associated Press article published through StarNews Online concerning allegations made by witness Lynette Smith during proceedings related to the murder of Mary Elizabeth Judd. The article discusses claims of witness intimidation, challenges to investigative practices, and concerns regarding the reliability of testimony. Statement of Facts D relies upon this reporting as an independently verified source supporting the allegations referenced in the Supplemental Motion.
Related SMAR Citation
“[Asheville Citizen Times, Nov. 9, 2003]”
“[Asheville Citizen Times]”
Source Name
Murder Witness Claims Intimidation
Author(s)
Associated Press
Publication
StarNews Online
Publication Date
November 9, 2003
Verification Source
Murder Witness Claims Intimidation
Source Location
Associated Press article referencing court documents obtained by StarNews Online
Highlighted Pages
1 - 2
Referenced in the Supplemental Motion
Page 28, Paragraph: 49
✔ Article obtained and reviewed.
✔ This article independently supports both Asheville Citizen-Times citations referenced in Paragraph 49 of the Supplemental Motion.
✔ Relevant passages highlighted.
✔ Publicly available source
✔ Included within the Source Verification Archive
May's allegation that John Collins and David Hammack were jailed in connection with the rape and
murder of Mary Elizabeth Judd based largely upon statements attributed to a single eyewitness,
Lynette Smith. The article is cited to document Smith's later claim that Sheriff Bobby Medford
threatened or intimidated her into making statements implicating Collins and Hammack, as well as
reporting that defense attorneys challenged the reliability of the investigation and the prosecution's
reliance upon her account. May relies upon this source to support his claim that coercive investigative
practices and questionable witness testimony were not isolated incidents within Buncombe County
criminal investigations and that concerns regarding the conduct of law enforcement and prosecutors
arose in multiple serious felony cases.
Source Status
Cited to Support
Supporting Documents
Original Article
Link to the original article.
Highlighted Research Copy
Working research copy containing the highlighted passages cited in the Supplemental Motion.
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