NORTH VERNON, Ind. — A North Vernon man accused of murder was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in Jennings County Circuit Court after entering a guilty plea.
William “Billy” Smith, 47, was arrested on May 11, 2021, for the killing of Robert Boyd, 56, of North Vernon. He was charged with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, arson, resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, and obstruction of justice.
According to court documents, Smith had been staying in Boyd’s house when the incident occurred. During the investigation, local police were allegedly told that someone close to Smith had revealed that he had a “hit list” of people he wanted to kill, including Robert Boyd. Members of Smith’s family and of law enforcement were also on the list.
Jennings County Prosecutor Brian Belding revealed that at first Smith was declared not competent to be tried, after examinations by two court-appointed doctors. He was transferred to Logansport State Hospital for several months until the psychiatrists deemed the defendant fit to stand trial.
Smith was scheduled to stand trial on February 27 but instead, he pleaded guilty to the felony charge of murder on February 23. The other charges were dismissed.
He acknowledged during the hearing that he committed the murder, according to Prosecutor Belding. The hearing was attended by members of Mr. Boyd’s family.
