PHOENIX — A 21-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms and an additional 21 years for fatally shooting a Peoria couple after a failed attempt to purchase their Ford Shelby GT500.
Alexander Lee Smith was convicted for the November 2023 murders of Walter Mitchell, 52, and Susie Ephrem, 42, who were shot inside their home near 79th Avenue and Cholla Street. Mitchell died at the scene, while Ephrem managed to call for help but died later at the hospital.
The couple’s 8-year-old grandson was in the home during the incident but was unharmed.
What led to the killings?
Investigators discovered that Smith had been in contact with Mitchell regarding the purchase of the high-performance vehicle. Mitchell canceled the sale after a promised wire transfer from Smith failed to go through. Instead, Mitchell chose to trade the car at a local dealership.
That same night, Smith broke into the couple’s home and committed the murders. The following day, Smith returned and told police he worked for a car collector and was there to retrieve the GT500. His story quickly came under scrutiny.
Phone records and text messages showed Smith was impersonating the car’s owner in an attempt to trade the vehicle. Even after the deal was canceled, Smith reportedly told another person he still planned to make the trade — the same day the murders occurred.
Police later used GPS data and fingerprint evidence to place Smith at the crime scene during the time of the killings. He eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary.
Prosecutors call crime ‘an act driven by greed’
“This was an act driven by greed,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell in a press release. “Even after taking two lives, this defendant continued to lie to police to try to get the car. Thanks to Peoria Police and MCAO prosecutors, his story unraveled and he will spend the rest of his life facing the consequences of his choices.”
Smith’s conviction brings an end to a chilling case involving deception, violence, and a luxury muscle car that cost two people their lives.
