A man convicted of murdering a West Valley couple during a violent home invasion tied to a failed car sale has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms, plus an additional 21 years in prison.
According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, 21-year-old Alexander Lee Smith received the sentence for the 2023 killings of Walter Mitchell and Susie Ephrem at their home near 79th Avenue and Mescal Street in November of that year.
Prosecutors say Smith had arranged to buy the couple’s Ford Shelby GT500 but became enraged when the wire transfer failed and the couple canceled the sale. Walter Mitchell reportedly traded the car to a dealership the following day.
On the day of the murders, Smith allegedly broke into the couple’s home and opened fire. Susie managed to call 911, but by the time first responders arrived, Walter was already dead. Susie was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and later died from her injuries. Their 8-year-old grandson, who was in the home at the time, was not physically harmed, according to Az Family.
“This was an act driven by greed; even after taking two lives, this defendant continued to lie to police to try to get the car,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “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.”
The day after the murders, Smith returned to the crime scene and told detectives he worked for a car collector who had purchased the Shelby GT500 from Walter and that he was there to collect the vehicle. Detectives turned him away. More than two weeks later, Smith walked into the Peoria Police Department asking to speak with detectives about retrieving the car.
However, police noted his account had changed from his original statement, raising further suspicion. Further investigation revealed Smith had tried to impersonate the car’s rightful owner in an attempt to trade the vehicle, even after the original deal was voided. He reportedly told someone that he planned to trade the car on the same day the fatal shooting occurred.
Detectives used GPS data and forensic evidence to build their case. Smith’s cell phone location placed him near the victims’ home at the time of the murders, and his fingerprints were found on the front door handle. Smith was arrested exactly one year after the crime and has now been held accountable with a life sentence that ensures he will never walk free again.