Woman found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in fatal stabbing case

Photos: Trial of Shannon Smith

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Patty Todd (right), mother of Robert Takach II, and her daughter react Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, to the verdict in the Shannon Smith murder trial in Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon. Smith was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Takach, the father of two of her children.

Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli Patty Todd (right), mother of Robert Takach II, and her daughter react Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, to the verdict in the Shannon Smith murder trial in Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon. Smith was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of Takach, the father of two of her children.

By Ed Richter, Staff Writer Updated 10:26 AM Friday, January 29, 2010

LEBANON — A Franklin woman was found guilty Thursday, Jan. 28 of voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of the father of her two children nearly a year after the incident.

The jury found Shannon N. Smith, 24, not guilty on a charge of special felony murder, a first-degree felony, but guilty on a tampering with evidence charge, a third-degree felony.

The jury deliberated for nearly 11 hours before the verdict was given around 10:15 p.m. on the fourth day of the trial in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing Robert Takach II, the man she had a tumultuous relationship with since she was 16, on Jan. 29, 2009 in her Beam Drive apartment.

About two dozen supporters were present from both sides when the jury of seven women and five men rendered their verdicts.

As the verdicts were read, people sobbed in both galleries of the courtroom. One person on the side where Takach’s family was sitting briefly clapped in response to hearing the verdict.

Security was tight in the courtroom with nine sheriff’s deputies stationed as Judge Robert Peeler ordered Smith be taken into custody and remain in jail until her sentencing.

Attorney Mike Allen asked the judge to reconsider as Smith was already under a $100,000 bond and had appeared at every hearing.

Marsha Hartbarger, a relative of Smith, said she was “totally disgusted with the process,” noting some evidence was not allowed to be admitted in the case.

“His family has never denied he hit her and no one has denied he beat her,” she said. “This is going to be appealed.”

Doug Mitchell, an uncle of Takach, said the verdict “was a hollow victory” and “there were no winners.”

Smith faces three to 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine on the voluntary manslaughter; and one to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine on the tampering with evidence charge.

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