In 1998, the disappearance of Christine Smith didn’t initially raise suspicions among the police due to her history of alcohol and substance abuse. Her daughter, Brookey Lee West, informed detectives that Christine had moved to California to live with her brother, a story they initially accepted. However, it wasn’t until three years later, in February 2001, when a foul odor led authorities to a storage shed in Las Vegas where they uncovered Christine’s decomposed remains, concealed and wrapped. The discovery was accompanied by books on witchcraft and satanism found at the scene, adding a chilling twist to the investigation.
West changed her story when questioned again, claiming her mother had died naturally, and out of panic, she had hidden the decaying body in a bin. However, a crucial detail emerged from the insects found at the scene. A forensic entomologist noted the absence of blowflies, typical in exposed bodies, and instead found coffin flies, indicating that the body had been concealed shortly after death or possibly while Christine was still alive.
West was arrested in September 2001 and faced accusations of killing her mother to continue receiving her monthly Social Security benefits. Despite her defense arguing that Christine died of natural causes and West acted out of panic, the evidence, including the unique insect findings and the state of the remains, was compelling.
In 2003, West was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The prosecutor described her as “true evil” and labeled the case as the most heinous and bizarre he had encountered. Currently incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Oregon, West, now 72, has been linked to multiple suspicious incidents, including the disappearance of her brother and the deaths of her husband and father.
Raised in a troubled environment with exposure to witchcraft and satanism from a young age, West’s past includes allegations of involvement in various crimes, including assault and suspicious deaths. Despite her conviction for her mother’s murder, West has continued to attract attention through her online sales of artwork and personal items. She also attempted an escape in 2012 from prison, where she remains a subject of interest in true-crime television series.