Transcripts For MSNBCW Dateline 20210404

Thanksgiving. Two teenagers, missing. I just buried my head into my hands, and i started to cry. Reporter where they were, and what they did would launch a terrifying case. Why did have to happen here . Reporter with a deadly end. Nobodys leaving until we figure out what happened. Reporter a man at home, alone, and afraid. What would you do, if you felt in danger . They were really attacking his home. You have a right to protect your home, and to protect yourself. He planned. He prepared. And he was determined to kill. Reporter the most chilling detail of all. What youll hear on tape. Hello. And welcome to dateline. Growing up, cousins nick brady and haile kifer were close. Nick loved to joke, and haile loved to laugh. The teenagers were together that cold, november day, when tragedy struck. The horrible incident was all there for police to hear, on a perfectlyclear recording. So, why was what happened so unclear . A mystery that would divide a community, and spark a national debate. Heres kate snow with 12 minutes on elm street. Reporter 12 minutes. Not a long time. But for three people, whose paths collided on thanksgiving day, 12 minutes was all it took for their lives to explode, in a flash. I refuse to live in fear. Reporter 12 minutes, that would haunt their families. I dropped to my knees, and i was like, this cant be happening. Basically, why . Reporter every second of those terrifying minutes would be fiercely debated. Your natural instinct is to save yourself, however you need to do it. Reporter a town divided over what happened inside this house, on elm street. Got a lot of weird things happen in trial. Ive never, in my life, had evidence such as this. This might be more than what were, initially, being told. Reporter but before all the fear and the finger pointing, it was just another thanksgiving weekend in november, 2012, in the small town of little falls, minnesota. Everybody knows everybody and everything about everybody. Reporter 18yearold, rachel brady, was spending the holiday with her 17yearold brother, nick, and their 18yearold cousin, haile kifer. We were always together. We would go camping. We were always in the water. Always doing something. Me and haile were always together. Reporter nick was the funloving one in the group. Kimberly is his mom. He found joy in everything, and he would make sure to find something to make you smile. Hed just sit there and hug me. And be like, oh, rachel, rachel, my big sister. And then, make me laugh every single time. Reporter like all kids, they liked to tease each other. Like, when rachel called nick the nickname he had when he was a little boy. Nickel baby. Nobody else called him that . Just the family . Oh, no, like his really good friends would call him it, after they heard me call him it. He would get so mad at me for saying it in front of his friends. Reporter growing up, nick was into sports and loved the outdoors. So did his cousin haile, who was as bright and active as he was. She was vivacious, bubbly, and funny. She was very athletic in high school. She was in gymnastics and softball and track. Reporter the closeknit cousins spent the wednesday before thanksgiving together. Rachel says, there isnt all that much for teens to do in little falls so they would drive around town in the red mitsubishi nick rebuilt, himself. Did you cruise right down the main drag here . Pretty much, everywhere. So, just spending the day, with with no cares. Yeah. Reporter they all spent the night together at a friends apartment. On thanksgiving morning, nik and haile left around 11 00 a. M. They said they were going to go to my mom and dads house. The plan was to meet later at grandmas house but nick and haile never showed up. Kimberly and rachel tried calling them. Is it strange for nick not to answer his phone . Absolutely. Even if i would have called over and over again, he would have called or answered and been like, what do you want . Strange for haile to not answer her phone . Extremely. She would have never not answered my phone call. Reporter adding to their worry was the weather. It had started snowing. So im thinking, okay, the weather. Maybe, he got stranded somewhere. And i was hoping that he was just staying overnight in a safe place. Yeah, in a safe place. Are you worried about a car accident . I was very worried. Reporter sure enough, on friday morning, there was frightening news. We heard about a car accident that had a red car. And we thought it was him, right away. And so, we went and looked and it ended up being car pieces for a different car. And so, then, when that wasnt him either, we started to get extremely worried. After that. We drove up and down the back roads, though. We looked. Up and down the highway. Any way i could think of that might lead through town, anywhere. Rachel posted messages on facebook. Has anyone heard from haile or nick . Still, nothing. By friday afternoon, they were out of their minds with worry. I mean, we called and called and called. No answers. No nothing. We kept getting the voicemails. And i was like, nick, this is getting serious. You know, we i started crying, on one of em. And i was like, you better not be making fun of me. This better not be a joke. Yeah. Reporter before the day was over, the family would find out, this was no joke. Something terrible had happened to nick and haile but it wasnt a car crash or an accident. It was something, no one in little falls, could have seen coming. Across town, Police Gather at a crime scene. And concerned neighbors fear the worst. Coming up. Just worry and panic like somethings wrong. Someone else had, also, met with trouble thatthanksgiving day. The deadly kind. When dateline continues. Kind. When dateline continues. When eye allergens attack, the itch can last 24 hours. 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Thanksgiving, 2012, Kimberly Brady was worried sick that her son nick and her niece, haile, never showed up for thanksgiving dinner. They had been missing for morethan24 hours. By friday afternoon, the family was frantic. So you decide to call the police . We went into the sheriffs department. Right away. And filled out missingpersons reports for both of them. As authorities processed those reports, three other sheriffs deputies were over on elm street. Investigating something, so troubling, they later called in a crimescene van. That got the attention of john and kathy lang, who saw the van go straight towards the house of their good friend, byron smith. A 64yearold, retired man, living on his own. I was decorating the christmas tree. I saw a big, huge truck go down his road. Called the crimescene unit. And i shouted for john. I think you were in the kitchen. And i said, call byrons cell. Something has happened. What did you worry, kathy . What did you think had happened . I thought he was dead. Reporter kathy and john feared the worst for their friend, who had seemed out of sorts, in recent months. Everything was fine when byron, first, moved back to his hometown of little falls aboutfive years earlier, after a career that took him all over the world with the u. S. State department. He was talking about living in moscow and cairo and dakar. And its amazing. A worldly guy. Very much, so. A great conversationalist and and fun to talk with. Reporter but recently, byron wasnt himself. His house had been broken into a few times. The thieves taking everything, from money to precious, family heirlooms. The langs say their friend had become afraid. He was acting real quiet, real scared. Reporter and then, that crimescene van showed up outside byrons home, and kathy was sure her friend was in trouble. Just worry and panic. Its like, somethings wrong. Reporter she was right. Something was wrong. Burglars had struck, again. This time, byron was home, and he had a gun. He had managed to defend himself, and survived the breakin. If you break into somebodys home, you better not have an expectation youre going to walk out alive, because the law permits them to shoot you. Reporter wetzel was the sheriff. When two intruders broke into his house and crept downstairs, byron shot both of them, dead. Minnesota laws clear on, this thing. You have the right to use deadly force against another person, if you believe your life or the life of another is in immediate jeopardy. Reporter as investigators continued to secure the scene at byrons house, the Sheriffs Office was calling another family. Kimberly brady had been frantically trying to find her son nick and her niece haile. Now, investigators knew what had happened to them. They drove out to speak with kimberly, and they brought a chaplain. As soon as i saw them turn the corner, the something i knew he was gone. I didnt know how or why. And then, all of a sudden, i remember the door opened and the chaplain came out. All i said was, no. I dont really remember if i said anything else. Hes like, your son is dead. Reporter nick and haile were both dead. Kimberly fell to her knees. And then, the chaplain told her, it was no accident. Hes like, your son was shot. And i was like and then, i mean, shot . That just wasnt doesnt fit. I i just remember feeling, like, i said what do you mean, shot to death . When i could finally get something out. And he said, well, he was shot three times. I was like, shot . What do you mean shot three times . And that that was i couldnt function. I couldnt really hear, after that. Were you there, rachel, during that . I walked in. And then, my dad said that somebody somebody shot nickel baby. And i remember, i just went right outside, and i sat in snow. I just buried my head into my hands, and i started to cry. And then, he tapped me on the shoulder, and told me, hailes gone, too. Thats your brother and your best friend. Do you remember what was racing through your head, rachel . Basically, why . I guess, we all just couldnt believe it was both, at one time, so suddenly. Reporter even harder to absorb . How and where nick and haile were shot. They were the intruders, byron smith killed. It was all very unbelievable. Reporter so, what happened in that basement, on elm street . The answer to that would lead to a heated debate. How far is too far, when it comes to defending your home . When do you cross the line, between victim and criminal . Coming up. A grainy image captures a clue. Is that nick . You see him, on different cameras, different angles, Walking Around the house. Reporter is that haile . When dateline continues. When dateline continues. Want to make a name for yourself in gaming . Then make a name for yourself. Even if your office, and bank balance are. Far from glamorous. That means expensing nothing but pizza. Your expenses look good, and your books are set for the month . Going up against this guy. And pitching your idea 100 times. No, no, no no. I like it. He likes it . And you definitely love that. Intuit quickbooks helps Small Businesses be more successful with payments, payroll, banking and live bookkeeping. The story of what happened on elm street spread, quickly, around little falls, minnesota. That two teenagers had broken into byron smiths house. Leaving the terrified homeowner no choice but to shoot them, in selfdefense. His friends and neighbors, john and kathy lang, had no trouble believing it. What was scary, it was very personal to him because they were really attacking his home. Reporter but the family of those intruders. They were in shock. I didnt believe it. I thought it was completely not right or untrue. Reporter teenaged cousins, nick brady and haile kifer had gone missing the day before, thanksgiving. Now, as she learned the circumstances of her sons death, nicks mother had so many questions. How do you reconcile, in your head, your beautiful boy, who loves the outdoors, and what theyre telling you, that he broke into somebodys house . I just, i couldnt imagine it. It just was so not him. So you just couldnt reconcile . Yeah. I had a lot of trouble. Reporter kimberly had never heard the name byron smith, but rachel had. I knew that my brother had worked for him, in the summer. But i didnt know him, at all. Reporter nick had once done yard work at byron smiths house. Now, the sheriff had evidence of what he was doing there, again. Byron had set up surveillance cameras at his home. Frightened, after a string of breakins. Those cameras proved there was no mistake about the breakin. Just after 12 30, the cameras pick up a man approaching the house. The hooded figure is nick. He looks through several windows, as if checking to see if someones home. He clutches his hood, closely, concealing his face. Jeremy is an investigative sergeant with the Morrison County sheriffs department. You could see that there had been what appeared to be a little bit of casing done on on Nicholas Bradys part. Reporter he even heads toward one of the cameras and tries to dismantle it. Then, he wau walks out of camera range, shatters a window and enters the house. Minutes later, the camera shows another, hooded figure. This one, carrying a purse and a cellphone. Its haile. On the video, it shows the female had come walking through the yard, up toward the house. Reporter all on tape, clear as daylight. But why . What were nick and haile up to that day . They both went to my school, at one time. Dylan lang is the son of byrons friends, john and kathy. In little falls. You know, your regular, high school crowds. Like, the jocks and the goth kids. Then, you have a group that is misguided. Reporter dylan didnt know haile well, but says, at school, nick was no angel. What did you know act those about those two teenagers . I knew that nick was aggressive. He would be the kid, who would push up against the locker. Kind of a bully . Right. He was a bully. Reporter and as it turned out, a thief. After the shootings, authorities determined nick had been behind one of those previous burglaries at byrons house. Just a month earlier, he and a friend broke through this door and stole thousands of dollars in cash and pricelessfamily heirlooms. And more disturbingly, two guns. They took things that were really important to him, personally. Yes. And then, when he took the guns, he thought he was going to get shot by his own guns. He was extremely afraid. Reporter to the sergeant, it all looked like a classic case of troublemaking kids crossing a line into dangerous, criminal behavior. You have two teenagers that seem to be running kind of rampant. You can, obviously, see that they had a change in their lives. Reporter and in fact, when investigators located nicks car parked on a secluded road near byron smiths home. They found items stolen from another house. Maybe, it was the motivation of money and having material items. Maybe, it was the motivation of having friends. And wanting to please friends. Reporter the evidence appeared to, all, be there. Clearly, captured on that surveillance video. Nick and haile had broken in, and byron smith seemed to have every reason to be afraid. The impression that he kind of left on me was that he was living in fear. He was not sleeping. It was, obviously, bothering him, physically and and emotionally. Reporter at first, even nicks mom, while she didnt want to believe much of what she was learning about her son, try today imagine herself, in byrons shoes. I dont believe that breaking and entering is right. And i dont wouldnt have expected it out of my son. Reporter it looked like a tragedy, all around. Two intruders and a fearful homeowner, with no choice but to shoot them. We know you have a right to protect your home, and to protect yourself. But a quick survey of the scene told sheriff wetzel that the teenagers were unarmed. As with any shooting, it would require more investigation. It would be ordinary, with two people dead in a home, that nobodys leaving until we figure out what happened. Reporter beginning with one question. Smiths house, friday afternoon, only to learn that the breakin and shootings, happened thursday, on thanksgiving day. I asked him. I said, why didnt you call Law Enforcement . And he tells me, i didnt want to bother you guys on thanksgiving day. That struck the sheriff as extremely odd. Nobody worries about wrecking our thanksgiving. They dont worry about wrecking our day. So, the intruders had been dead, for 24 hours, when byron called a neighbor for help. And asked him to call the Sheriffs Office. When you found out that byron smith had waited 24 hours. My mind was then, why . If he was so scared, wouldnt you be on the phone . I mean, because those kids had families, too, that were waiting. And then, for him to say he didnt want to bother anybody on thanksgiving. Really . It became clearer and clearer and clearer that there were some things that were strange about this case. Reporter investigators were about to learn a lot more about that shooting in the house on elm street. And what happened next would tear this town apart. Coming up. I was no longer willing to live in fear. Byron smiths story. Was it all adding up . When dateline continues. When dateline continues. Vets. It even prevents the infection that causes lyme disease. Your vet trusts nexgard for her patients and her own dog. Plus, its delicious beef flavor is 1 with dogs. Ask your vet about nexgard. Feel the clarity of nondrowsy claritin. And 24hour relief from symptoms causedeef flavor is 1 with dogs. By over 200 indoor and outdoor allergens. Try claritin cool mint chewabls for powerful allergy relief plus a cooling sensation. Live claritin clear. Im dara brown. Heres whats happening. Fashion designer, Mossimo Giannulli was released from prison. He was serving time for a College Admissions bribery scheme. His wife, actress lori loughlin, left prison in december. Kenny shaver was released from the hospital on saturday. He was injured after a car drove into a security barricade. His fellow officer, william evans, passed away in the incident. Now, back to dateline. Welcome back to dateline. Im craig melvin. Was byron smith justified, in killing two teenaged intruders . Nick brady and haile kifer were both unarmed when he shot them. Also, troubling to police. The 64yearold waited a full day, to call for help. Now, smith was about to give detectives a chilling account of what happened in his basement. And it would turn this case on its head. Here, again, is kate snow with 12 minutes on elm street. Reporter nick brady and haile kifer had broken into byron smiths house. The frightened homeowner said he had shot them in a moment of selfdefense. But investigators had questions for byron. So, sergeant lubertz escorted him to headquarters right away that friday. Can you tell me your full name, please . Byron david smith. I just wanted his story. I wanted to find out the rest of the facts of what happened at the house. Whoever it was, who was breaking into my home, had been doing it for so long, that i was no longer willing to live in fear. Reporter byron explained how hed been terrified, ever since that breakin, a month earlier, when two of his guns were stolen. These are people, who have stolen my guns. I figure theyre willing to use those, if they steal guns. Reporter byron wasnt home during those other breakins. But this time, he was. As seen on this homesecurity camera. He said he had moved his truck a few blocks away, that morning, so he could clean his garage. The teens must have thought he wasnt there. I needed to clean out the garage, and i wanted it out of the way for a while. Reporter byron told him how he was in the basement when he heard the first intruder break in, upstairs, and head down toward him. You heard footsteps coming down the stairs, is that correct . Yes, and then i saw his feet. And then, i saw his legs. And when i saw his hips, i shot. It was nick. Byron shot him three times. I was reacting. Okay. What were you reacting to . Is what im asking. The threat, the previous losses. I spent 20 years overseas. A couple years in bangkok. Several years in cairo. 20 years overseas. Not one problem. And i retire to my peaceful hometown. Reporter while byrons voice broke a few times during his account of the shooting, sergeant lubertz was surprised at how calm and matter of fact he was for most of the interview. You would think, after such a horrific event, shooting and killing two people that broke into your house. That he would be very emotional. Maybe, crying, at times. I didnt notice any of that, from byron smith. He just maintained his composure, which was rather odd. Reporter much stranger, still, the investigator thought, was byrons account of what happened a fewminutes after he shot nick. Haile entered the house and byron fired, again. It jammed. Trigger clicked and she laughed at me. I just pulled out the. 22 and shot her. If you are trying to shoot somebody and they laugh at you, you go again. Reporter was haile really laughing, as he shot her . To the sergeant, it seemed like such a bizarre detail. And then, byron told them this. I thought she was dead, and it turned out she wasnt. So, i did a good, clean, finishing shot. Reporter he shot haile six times, in all. And with that, the investigators came to believe this was something, other than a simple case of selfdefense. My question, byron, is why did you shoot, again . She didnt have a weapon in her hand. Actually, i dont know if she had a weapon in her hand, until later. Okay. I wasnt looking at her hands. But did she was laying there, hurt. Did she she wasnt threatening you. Im just asking. There was, certainly, a continuation of the use of deadly force, after it appeared to us the threat had stopped. And that made us believe that this needs to be looked at by the prosecuting attorney. Reporter byron smith was arrested that day. But later, released on bond. A grand jury was convened to look at the case. In little falls, his friends were shocked that authorities could believe byron was anything but an innocent victim. It was ridiculous, that he would be this coldblooded killer. Like, really . Hes a quiet, softspoken person. It i just didnt fathom it. Reporter while byron was free on bond, his friends, the langs, say he cant bear to go back to his own home. So they took him in. I could hear him in his room, many, many nights. Im so sorry. I feel so bad. I didnt want to hurt anybody. I could hear him in there, crying. Reporter the case, quickly, became a big kroefrt in little falls, minnesota. Did people take sides . Absolutely. People became more opinionated about what happened. Some people would come up to me. Hes going to prison. He shouldnt have done that. And i said, well, you havent heard the whole story. I think that byrons got a lot of support, in this area. Reporter Bill Anderson was byrons neighbor. The same one, who called authorities the day after the shootings. Myself . Would i have done the same thing that mr. Smith did . No doubt in my mind. No doubt in my mind. It seemed like a big box of puzzle pieces. Reporter prosecutors, pete and brent were in charge of evaluating the case against byron. And they knew it was controversial, from the start. When brent and i got involved in it, the emails started. The phone calls. Castigating us for taking this. After all, doesnt a homeowner have a right to defend his dwelling . I didnt argue with people. I just said, well, just stay open and let the evidence come out. And then, lets see if you hold that same view. Reporter after looking at all the evidence, the prosecutors believed there was a strong case. The moment nick broke the window and entered into that house, didnt byron smith, then have the right to defend himself . Yes. Yes, he did. But thats not what he did. He went way, way beyond defending himself. Reporter that grand jury in minnesota agreed. In april of 2013, five months after the shootings, byron smith was indicted on two counts of firstdegree murder. Now, there would be a trial, in the case everyone in town was talking about. With revelations from both sides. Coming up. Murder . Or selfdefense . Why did he wait so long, before calling authorities . Fear. Reporter the explosive debate heads into court. When dateline continues. T. 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When you are talking about multiple shots, down on the ground. Right away, jumps out at ya. You know, hey, this is premeditated murder. On the other bank, were those who viewed smith as a man with every right to defend himself and his home against intruders. They werent invited for thanksgiving dinner. There wasnt a table set for them. They didnt come through the door. But they, certainly, found a window to come in. Reporter but nicks mother, Kimberly Brady, was determined, even through her own grief, not to make up her mind, until shed heard all the facts. I kept an open mind, because if he was fearful for his life, i couldnt fault him for defending himself. I waited, until i heard all the evidence. Reporter the evidence said byron smiths defense attorney would show his client had done nothing wrong. This is a case about big misunderstanding. This is about byron smith being accused of a crime, he did not commit. Reporter did you believe that byron smith was justified in shooting nick brady and haile kifer . Yes. Its not something he wanted to do, but he didnt ask them to burglarize his home, in a violent way, on thanksgiving. They chose to do that, and he reacted. Reporter so the defense came to court, confident a jury would see it that way. In minnesota, as i understand it, you have the right to protect your life. You have the right to protect your home, your property, as long as its reasonable. If somebody breaks into your home and commits a a felony offense, in your home. You can kill that threat. Reporter meshbesher said everything byron did thatthanksgiving day and the next was evidence that he was truly terrified inside his own home. Why did he wait so long before calling authorities . Fear. He was afraid there was a third or fourth or fifth person. So, hes afraid of the backyard, the front yard, the stairway, the door. Hes just in utter fear, and he goes into a closet and hides. In his own house. Until the fear subsides. Reporter as for smiths calm demeanor and the matteroffact way, in which he described the killings . I just pulled out the. 22 and shot her. Reporter the defense said, he was just a man trying to help the authorities, any way he could. On the exterior, he appears to be calm. But hes talking about how frightened he is, internally. He is trying to explain, to the police, what happened. He is trying to help them solve what occurred. Reporter but would the defense be able to convince the jury that byron smiths own account of the shootings, how he gave haile a selfdescribed, finishing shot was really justified . I did a good, clean, finishing shot. From a human standpoint, it just sounds so cold blooded. It does, and i had to deal with the way it sounded. But its not evidence of what he is thinking. Its evidence of emotion. Its not evidence of murder. Reporter he thought his strongest evidence to justify the shootings was the fact that nick brady had broken into byron smiths house, before. Had even stolen guns. So, byron had every reason to fear for his life. You wanted to show them that these were kids that were up to no good . No, thats not what i wanted to do. I wanted the jury to see the truth, rather than just see a painted picture that the media was playing of their high school photographs. Reporter but the judge said, testimony about nicks involvement in that previous breakin was irrelevant and inadmissible. He, also, couldnt say in court that there was evidence that nick and haile, together, had robbed another house, too. Unfortunately, the judge would not allow that evidence to come in. And i thought he was making a grave error. Reporter how many witnesses did you have lined up, who werent allowed to speak . About half a dozen. Reporter and so, byron smiths friends, watching in court, could only hope that the jury would see things, as they did. That he was a scared man, who defended his life and property. We knew him as our friend byron. So, it was ridiculous, to us, for authorities calling him a coldblooded killer. Reporter it would be an uphill battle in the court of public opinion, thought prosecutors. They knew they had the burden of proof. I have tried a lot of murder cases. And this one, in particular, seemed like a real challenge. Why . Because a lot of people thought wed lose it. Lot of people saw this, as a referendum on whether its okay to protect your property, and protect your life. You dont see it that way . Not this case, not these facts. Reporter but to prove murder, in the first degree, the state would have to show that byron acted, not just with excessive, Unreasonable Force but, also, with premeditation. And while the defense may have had a lot of townspeople on its side, the prosecution had something else. A piece of evidence, they felt, would sway any juror to see byron smith, not as a fearful victim but, as a calculating killer. Did byron tell investigators that he had made audiotapes . No, he did not. Coming up. The revelation that stopped everyone, cold. Can you ever erase that from your memory . Not ever. No. When dateline continues. N s introducing voltaren arthritis pain gel. The first full prescription strength nonsteroidal antiinflammatory gel. Available over the counter. Voltaren is powerful arthritis pain relief in a gel. Voltaren. The joy of movement. Alright, guys, no insurance talk on beach day. Im down. Yes, please. [ chuckles ] dont get me wrong, i love my rv, but insuring it is such a hassle. Same with my boat. The insurance bills are through the roof. [ sighs ] be cool. I wish i could group my insurance stuff. [ coughs ] bundle. The house, the car, the rv. Like a cluster. An insurance cluster. Woosah. [ chuckles ] i doubt that exists. Its a bundle its a bundle, and it saves you money hi. Im flo from progressive, and i couldnt help but overhear. Super fun beach day, everybody. Nexgard is the flea and tick protection thats 1 with vets. It even prevents the infection that causes lyme disease. Your vet trusts nexgard for her patients and her own dog. Plus, its delicious beef flavor is 1 with dogs. Ask your vet about nexgard. Feel the cool rush of claritin cool mint chewables. Powerful 24hour, nondrowsy, allergy relief plus, its delicious beef flavor is 1 with dogs. Plus an immediate cooling sensation for your throat. Feel the clarity, and live claritin clear. There are people who think byron smith is a hero. What do you say to them . I say he is a murderer, and murderers cant be heros. In a sharplydivided, minnesota courtroom, the prosecution argued that byron smith was no fearful, innocent victim. But, an angry man, bent on violent confrontation. He told investigators, from the beginning, that he was sitting, reading a book, in the basement. That he was caught, unaware. You dont buy any of that . No. Not at all. Reporter the prosecutors said they had evidence that it was premeditated murder. They told the jury, byron had set a trap for the burglars. Remember the story about moving his truck to clean the garage . The prosecutor said that was a lie. That byron had, in fact, moved the truck to make it look like he wasnt home. You think byron wanted to catch the people who had been breaking into his house . Clearly. He planned. He prepared. And he was determined to kill whoevers breaking into his house, and stealing his property. Reporter the prosecution said byron was in the basement, not to read a book but, to wait, like a hunter. It just seemed like byron smith was deer hunting. Like a lot of folks do in minnesota. Where you get in your stand, and you wait and you wait. And when a deer comes by, you shoot and kill it. And it just seemed like thats what he did with these kids. Reporter but could they prove it . Turns out, the prosecutors had something theyd never encountered, in nearlyhalf a century of combinedtrial work. Do you remember when you first listened to it . I do and it knocked me out. Ive never been able to hear a murder actually occurring. Reporter byron smith had recorded the breakin and the shootings. Investigators found this digitalaudio recorder on a bookshelf in the basement. It had captured morethansix hours worth of audio, that day. You ended up with a trove of information. His own words, on tape. Indeed, we did. Reporter here is byron smith, shortly before the breakin, talking to himself. In your left eye. Why would he say that, a halfhour before anyone came over . Well, when you go through the autopsy photographs, you see that he shot haile kifer in her left eye. He was planning where he was going to shoot an intruder. Not just shooting them, but where. Where, in the face, is he going to shoot em . Then, it sounds like byron is planning not just the shooting but, also, his defense. He practices contacting a lawyer. I realize i dont have an appointment. But i would like to see one of the lawyers here. Reporter tenminutes later, the practicing is over. The recorder captures something real. How quickly did everything go down, that day . 12 minutes. Reporter 12 minutes, from the first shot fired, at nick brady, to the ninthandfinal one fired at haile kifer. It was frightening. Reporter the prosecutors played all12 minutes, in court. But first, warned nick and hailes families, who sat through every day of the trial, that they may not want to hear it. He actually suggested you probably shouldnt be there that day. He did, more than once. Why did you want to be there . I needed to know. I mean, i you you need to hear the whole story. To understand it, i think, in this case. You cant just make a snap judgment. Reporter this is the sound of nick entering the home. Walking down the stairs, to the basement. And as he is going down the stairs, you can hear him get shot. Reporter we wont play that part of the recording. But listen to what byron says, after shooting nick, three times. Youre dead. Reporter then, theres a rustling sound that the prosecution says is byron unfolding a tarp, that he uses to move nicks body. You can, then, hear byron reload his gun. Haile, coming into the house, looking for her cousin. So, she comes in, and goes right to the basement. Starts walking down. And thats when he shoots her. Reporter here, on the recording, is what the prosecution says is a pivotal moment. In his interview with investigators, byron had said he felt threatened by haile. And that she had been laughing at him, when he fired. She laughed at me. Reporter but on that audio recording of the shooting, which again, we have edited, the prosecution says haile clearly sounds terrified. Oh, my god. Shes screaming, in a high pitch. Saying, oh, my god, oh, my god. And after he is done shooting, this is what byron says. Bitch. Reporter those, in court, saw byron smith wipe away tears as the audio played. There was stunned silence saved for the quiet sobs from nick and hailes families. Can you ever erase that from your memory . Not ever. Like, ever since i heard it, its been replaying in my head, over and over. I feel like anytime i hear somebody say, oh, my god, thats what i think of. Reporter but the prosecution wasnt done with that recording. Im sure she thought she was a real pro. Reporter because byron continued to talk to himself, after the teens were dead. I felt like i was cleaning up a mess. I dont see them as human. I see them as vermin. Reporter by now, kimberly had heard all the facts she needed. What do you hear, when you hear those words . Pure evil. I i dont know how you can say that about anybody, let alone two precious kids. And i i dont believe he was scared. I i believe it was premeditated murder. Reporter but in court, the defense said, that recording, as disturbing as it is, proves nosuch thing. I tried to be a good person. Reporter rather, it shows a man, quite possibly, driven mad with fear. I feel a little bit safer. Not totally safe. Im still shaking, a bit. Hes talking to himself, mumbling things. A lot of things didnt make sense. He sounds, frankly, like someone who is maybe losing his mind. Someone who is or lost their mind. He simply had no ability to deal with reality, at that time. Reporter after a week of testimony, the case went to the jury. It was anyones guess which portrait of byron smith those 12 people would believe. The coldblooded killer, lying in wait . Or the terrified man, under siege, in his own home . What were you thinking, as the jury went out to deliberate . I gave it all to god. I was pretty peaceful. Just put your faith in him . I did. And waited . And waited. Reporter it wasnt a long wait. The jury was back, in less than four hours. The verdict . Guilty of firstdegree murder for killing, both, nick brady and haile kifer. I waited. I heard. And i believed. And then, it was said. I was very happy to see him taken away. But there was no winners. Doesnt give you your brother and your best friend back. Exactly. I put my head in my hands, and went, thank god for them. You know . That they got that. The families . Yes. Reporter but byrons supporters felt the opposite of relief. Shocked. Stunned. It was such a onesided trial. It was so unfair. Reporter kathy said theres so much more to her friend the jury never learned. He just came here to retire, and want a quiet life. This should have never happened. This was just pure, utter sadness. Reporter it was just12 minutes that changed so many lives, in so many tragic ways. Byron smith will live out his retirement, in prison, having received an automaticlife sentence. And nick brady and haile kifer, two young cousins, who made a terrible decision to enter that home, paid for it with their lives. And their loved ones are left to mourn a future that will never be. You had a little, baby girl, not too long ago. And nick and haile werent here to see that. I think thats probably one of the hardest parts about all of it. I would have loved to see my brother hold her. He would have been uncle nick. Uncle nickel baby. Thats all for this edition of dateline. Im craig melvin. Thank you for watching. Im craig melvin. And im natalie morales. And this is dateline. I was trying to determine what she had on. You know, clothing. And he got real quiet and whispered and he said, red blood. Chills up and down my spine because i thought, wow, this kid saw this. A little boy witnessed something terrifying the night his mother vanished. It just was ripping my heart. He was so traumatized. Everybodys life changed that night. Everybodys did. What had happened to his mom . I still wake up in the middle of