Northeast
Pamela Smart says in prison video why her 'warped logic' is wrong as she takes ownership of husband's murder
Pamela Smart said she has acknowledged “for the first time” that she is responsible for her husband’s murder after decades of deflecting blame with “warped logic.”
“I found myself responsible for something I desperately didn’t want to be responsible for, my husband’s murder,” Smart said in a videotaped message from prison obtained by Fox News Digital.
This revelation, she said, came in a prison writing class, where her instructor pushed the group to “dig deeper … in my own mind, in my own heart.”
Smart, now 56, has spent nearly 34 years behind bars as part of a life sentence without parole for her role in Gregory Smart’s 1990 murder. The killing was carried out by four teenagers, led by one boy she was having an affair with.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME PAMELA SMART ASKED FOR A PARDON
In this 1991 file photo Pamela Smart testifies in Rockingham County Superior Court in Exeter, N.H. (The Associated Press)
In May 1990, Billy Flynn, who was 16 at the time, fired a shot through Gregory Smart’s head as Patrick Randall, then 17, held a knife to his throat.
Pamela Smart, who was 22 at the time and Flynn’s program instructor in a Hampton, New Hampshire, high school, was sneaking around with Flynn.
During the trial, Flynn testified that Pamela threatened to break up with him if he didn’t kill her husband.
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Flynn, Randall and two other teenagers at the time, who were the getaway drivers, served their sentences and have since been freed.
“It has taken me decades to come to a place where I can more fully understand and accept responsibility for my inexcusable actions and behaviors,” Pamela wrote in a March letter to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, where she pleads for a pardon.
Pamela Smart acknowledged responsibility for her husband’s murder in her latest plea for a pardon. (AP Photo/Jon Pierre Lasseigne, File)
She said in the letter that she lied to herself and “rationalized that, because I wasn’t there the night Gregg was murdered, because I didn’t pull the trigger, I wasn’t responsible.”
“I became comfortable in my warped logic because I didn’t want to face the fact that Gregg’s murder was no one’s fault but my own,” Pamela wrote.
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In the videotaped statement from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York, where she is serving time, she used this “warped” rationalization as a “coping mechanism because the truth of being so responsible was very difficult for me.”
Gregg’s cousin, Val Fryatt, didn’t buy the lengthy pauses and Pamela’s emotions in the 4.5-minute video, telling the Associated Press that she “danced around it … without admitting the facts around what made her ‘fully responsible.’”
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In this March 9, 1991, file photo, Patrick Randall, 17, testifies in Rockingham County Superior Court in Exeter, N.H. Randall held a knife to Gregory Smart’s throat in May 1990 as Billy Flynn, who was Pamela Smart’s teenage lover, shot him in the head. Flynn was eventually paroled; Smart is serving life without parole after being convicted of plotting the murder. (The Associated Press)
The video is part of an 83-page petition – dated June 7 – that includes a lengthy list of academic achievements, jobs and nearly 30 letters of support from fellow inmates, corrections employees, religious leaders and friends.
Even Peter Stern, the Brooklyn Nets CFO, wrote a letter on her behalf.
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It’s Pamela’s fourth time asking New Hampshire’s governor and the Executive Council to commute her sentence.
“I do not want to die in prison,” she wrote.
The most recent attempt was in March 2022, when she was denied the right to present her case “within minutes,” her lawyer, Mark Sisti, said.
WATCH FULL VIDEOTAPED PRISON STATEMENT
The petition “illustrates overwhelming evidence” of “rehabilitation, remorse, self-improvement and true dedication to redemption,” Sisti wrote in the filing. “She has matured beyond her years and has grown to realize her part in the murder of her husband.”
Sisti told Fox News Digital that it’s entirely up to the governor’s Executive Council to hear Pamela’s petition.
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Pamela Smart gets sworn in before testifying in her own defense in Rockingham County Court. (Getty Images)
The governor told Fox News Digital in an email that her petition will not be on the agenda for today’s meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for June 26, the Executive Council said.
Whether her request will be considered is still up in the air, as the governor has been noncommittal.
In an emailed statement to Fox News Digital, Gov. Sununu said, “New Hampshire’s process for commutation or pardon requests is fair and thorough. Pamela Smart will be given the same opportunity to petition the Council for a hearing as any other individual.”
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READ FULL PETITION
She said in the videotaped statement that she can see the missteps she made decades ago, including not taking responsibility for her actions.
“Now that I am older and able to look back on things, I can see so many errors that I made, and I can see how skewed my judgment was and immature I was,” Pamela said in the video.
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“I am such a different person than I was. I’m more thoughtful than before. I think things through before I make decisions and less impulsive and just more responsible and mature than I was back then.”
Pamela is believed to be the longest serving female inmate in the Bedford Hills women’s prison, where she was sent by the state of New Hampshire after her 1991 conviction.
“I’m respectfully asking for the opportunity to come before you, the New Hampshire Executive Council, and have an honest conversation with you about my incarceration, my acceptance of responsibility and any concerns you might have, any questions,” she said at the end of the recorded statement.
“If I could come in person or via video conference so that we could share an honest conversation, I would be extremely grateful for that.”
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Northeast
Murder suspect in Baltimore robbery spree was on probation, records show
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A Baltimore man faces first-degree murder and multiple armed robbery charges after authorities say he carried out a nine-day crime spree that left a convenience store clerk dead.
Baltimore police said 52-year-old Brian Burrows was arrested in connection with a commercial armed robbery and the fatal shooting of Khaled Saleh Mohamed Alshariki on Feb. 13.
Court records show Burrows has been charged in three separate cases stemming from incidents on Feb. 6, Feb. 13 and Feb. 15. In total, he faces 21 charges, including one count of first-degree murder, three counts each of armed robbery, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in a violent crime and handgun on person.
He also faces two counts each of robbery and second-degree assault, along with charges including reckless endangerment, theft and discharging a firearm.
Brian Burrows faces first-degree murder charges, among numerous others, after police say a nine-day robbery spree left a convenience store clerk dead. (Baltimore City Police)
According to police, officers responded to reports of a shooting around 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 and found a 36-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. The victim, later identified as Alshariki, was transported to a nearby hospital where he died.
FOX45 News in Baltimore reported it obtained charging documents in the cases, which state surveillance footage captured a suspect approaching Alshariki as he worked behind the counter, pulling out a gun, demanding money and firing a fatal shot.
Court records show investigators used facial recognition technology to identify Burrows as a possible match.
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A Baltimore man faces first-degree murder and 20 other charges. (Getty Images)
Two days later, another armed robbery was reported at Family Grocery and Tobacco, about a half mile north of the Broadway store.
Police said witness statements and surveillance footage helped identify Burrows, and investigators allege the video evidence also linked him to the fatal shooting.
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Burrows was arrested Feb. 19 after detectives executed a warrant. (iStock)
Burrows was arrested Feb. 19 after detectives executed a warrant at a home in Linden Heights. He was taken to an intake facility and charged.
Court records also show Burrows had an outstanding probation violation warrant issued in September 2025 in a prior armed robbery case. In that case, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 13 years suspended, and placed on supervised probation before his release.
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Burrows remains held without bond as prosecutors pursue the murder and robbery charges, while the probation violation from his prior armed robbery case remains pending.
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Boston, MA
Red Sox rotation contender strikes out four in dominant outing
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Johan Oviedo’s first outing of the spring last week didn’t go great, as the right-hander walked three over 1 2/3 innings in a performance manager Alex Cora described as “erratic.”
His second outing on Monday went much better.
Oviedo was dominant in Monday’s 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, striking out four over three scoreless innings while holding Toronto to two hits and no walks. He was also highly efficient, throwing 25 of his 31 pitches for strikes while drawing five whiffs.
After allowing a leadoff single to George Springer out of the gate, Oviedo got a strikeout and a double play to quickly get out of the first. He followed that by pitching around a harmless one-out single in the second before sending the Blue Jays down 1-2-3 to finish his outing in the third.
Viewed as the likely top candidate to earn Boston’s No. 5 rotation spot heading into camp, Oviedo clearly helped out his cause with the brilliant showing. He will be in line to make his next start on Saturday.
Gonzales smokes one
Justin Gonzales, a hulking 6-foot-7 outfielder and Boston’s No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline’s latest rankings, made the trip up to Dunedin with the big league club and showed off his power in breathtaking fashion.
In the top of the ninth inning the 19-year-old scorched a single that was measured at 117.3 mph off the bat. According to MLB researcher Sarah Langs’ Daily Statcast leaders, that is the second hardest exit velocity recorded by any player so far this spring. The only ball hit harder was Kansas City Royals’ slugger Jac Caglianone’s 120.2 mph double on Feb. 26.
Franklin Arias, a 20-year-old infielder and Boston’s consensus No. 2 prospect, also made the trip and got the start at shortstop. He went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts at the plate but helped turn a double play to end the bottom of the first.
Big day for Gasper
Monday’s lineup consisted largely of players who are likely to start the season in the minor leagues, but even with that being the case, Mickey Gasper made a strong impression.
The Red Sox catcher and utility player led the offense by going 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI. Gasper had an RBI single in the top of the third and followed that by crushing a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the fifth.
Nathan Hickey (1 for 2) also had a two-run home run to put the Red Sox ahead for good in the top of the eighth, Allan Castro (2 for 3, stolen base) hit a game-tying solo shot in the sixth, Max Ferguson (1 for 2, walk) had an RBI double and Braiden Ward went 2 for 3 with a stolen base.
Watson struggles
Ryan Watson, a Rule 5 pick looking to make the Red Sox roster as a rookie, had a tough outing on Monday. The right-hander allowed four runs over 2/3 of an inning on one hit, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Watson led off the inning with a lineout before allowing a single, hit by pitch and a walk to load the bases. He then drew a run-scoring groundout before walking another batter to reload the bases. At that point manager Alex Cora lifted the rookie and all three inherited runners came around to score when minor leaguer Patrick Halligan allowed a grand slam to Blue Jays third baseman Addison Barger.
Coming up next
The Red Sox will host Team Puerto Rico in an exhibition at JetBlue Park on Tuesday night ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Left-hander Jake Bennett will get the start for the Red Sox, and Zack Kelly, Tyler Uberstine, Tyler Samaniego and Vinny Nittoli are all scheduled to pitch for Boston too. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN+, NESN 360 and WEEI 93.7 FM.
Pittsburg, PA
Record number of peregrine falcons counted in Allegheny County
In the early 1960s, the peregrine falcon population declined so sharply that the raptors weren’t even nesting in Pennsylvania. But now, the National Aviary says a record number have been counted in Allegheny County.
The National Aviary says six peregrine falcons were recorded in the county during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The nation’s longest-running citizen science project collects data on bird populations for ornithologists, the aviary says. It also plays a role in guiding conservation action, like what was needed to bring peregrine falcons back from the brink of extinction.
Because of the use of DDT, peregrine falcons were no longer nesting in the state of Pennsylvania by the early 1960s, the aviary said. But after the harmful pesticide, which negatively affects reproduction rates in birds, was banned in 1972, conservation efforts have helped the peregrine falcon rebound. It was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 and Pennsylvania’s list in 2021.
The record number of peregrine falcons in Allegheny County is thanks in part to the nest on top of Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. For the past two years, biologists with the Pennsylvania Game Commission have banded chicks born in the nest. Three were banded last year, and two the year before that.
People can watch Carla and Ecco raise their family in the nest on a livestream camera run by the National Aviary. Carla laid her first egg of the breeding season on March 16 last year, so the aviary says the start of another season isn’t too far away.
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