SMITH COUNTY (KYTX) -- Allegations are flying over sheriff candidate Larry Smith's involvement in a 1999 murder case. No one contends that Smith is lying about being there. The question is over how crucial his involvement was to the case.
"What's the most serious crime you have ever, yourself, personally investigated and tell us the results of that investigation?" the moderator asked at a Grassroots America We the People debate in May.
"Newton Anderson killed a man and woman in New Harmony here several years ago," Smith said. "He's in the cemetery now. Those are cases that I worked on."
That answer has some people believing he's taking credit for spear-heading a 13-year-old murder investigation.
"[Smith] wasn't even there the first 48 hours," former candidate Bobby Garmon said in response to Smith's answer.
Since then, Troup Police Chief Pat Hendrix (the lead investigator on the case in question) has publicly said Smith wasn't there.
"Mr. Smith was not a part of my investigative team," he said. "He embellished what he did."
A copy of Hendrix's report from the case never mentions Smith being there. But a copy of Smith's own investigation report shows that he was called in to investigate the fire that was set after two victims were killed.
In the process, the records show that he uncovered a stopped clock that linked the murderer to the scene.
"It's not just fire evidence," Smith said. "It's criminal evidence. It's criminal evidence of that happened during that deal."
"He gave us the origin of the fire," sheriff candidate Chris Green said. "I personally don't think that was an integral part of the investigation."
Green told CBS 19 it's not the only case he believes Smith has embellished on his resume.
"As far as I'm concerned I think he's mislead the public on his role," Green said.
District Attorney Matt Bingham said it's Green's side that's mistaken.
"I prosecuted it," Bingham said. "And what they're saying is not accurate. He was absolutely integral to that investigation."
This was Bingham's first time to comment on the allegations. He did so only after we called him and he was careful to say he does not back a candidate.
The Tyler Tea Party has come out in support of Green on this issue. Grassroots America is continuing to support Larry Smith.
The run-off election will be July 31st.
