Suspect in Missouri Kidnapping Commits Suicide

Paul Sterling Smith, a registered sex offender who was wanted for questioning in the abduction of 4-year old Alisa Maier, has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Police were following up on over 100 leads related to the case and approached the man at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday at a home in Hawk Point, Missouri, a town about half way between the Alisa’s Louisiana, Missouri home where the abduction occurred and the carwash where she was eventually found.  The man was spray-painting his vehicle silver.  The police noticed he had a fire-arm and ordered him to drop his weapon.  The man then shot himself in the head and died several hours later at a local hospital.

The child’s relatives report that other than having her hair cut short to resemble a boy, Alisa was not injured or abused in any way.  The police have refused to comment on this issue.

Smith was convicted in 1995 of sodomizing a 10-year old boy and is on the states sex offender registry.  He also served time on charges of receiving stolen property and tampering with a motor vehicle registration. He was released from jail just a few weeks ago on drug charges.

Sources:

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/person-of-interest-in-kidnapping-of-missouri-girl-alisa-maier-shoots-himself/19546118

http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=206384&catid=3

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/08/missouri.abducted.child/index.html?hpt=Sbin