True Stories: Betty Gladden Smith aka Betty Fran Smith

Facts in her disappearance

Betty disappeared 18 months after her marriage to John David Smith III in 1990.

Betty and Sherrie together

John David Smith III filed for divorce in 1991. They decided to try at the marriage again and moved to New Jersey, everything seemed ok for a while, but it became evident that he was abusive. On Tuesday, Oct 4, 1991, Betty phoned her daughter for the last time at 8:30pm. She was home recovering from hip surgery. She did not seem upset and mentioned nothing about traveling. This was the last time anyone heard from Betty. Her family called many times trying to get in touch with her. Finally they reached John, and they were told that Betty decided to go on a trip. Of course no one believe him. It was at that time that Betty's sister Sherrie Gladden Smith, and her daughter started to investigate John's past. They discovered that John had not only lied about being married before, but that his former wife, Janice Hartman, was actually missing too since 1974. Sherrie Gladden Smith chronicled her journey of bringing John David Smith to justice in her book "My Sister is Missing." Betty Gladden Smith's body has never been found.

True Stories: John David Smith and Diane Bertalan

If you can, pick up a copy of the book "Stranger in my Bed" by Michael Fleeman. It tells the story of a woman, Diane Bertalan, who was once married to John David Smith. John David Smith, a charming man and handsome man who constantly lavished her with gifts, was extremely secretive about his past. Diane had no idea, until the year 2000 that the FBI had been watching him. It was at that time that she became aware of the case of "the lady in the box."

Photos of John David Smith: Ohio Inmate

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At the time of his arrest

Man Kills Wife, Chops Her Up, Then Dresses As Her

 Here is another case that is somewhat similar. This story is not affiliated with the story above or the movie above.

George Eckersley Killed His Wife Then Dressed Up As Herr

George and Denise Eckersley were married for 4 years. In 1999 they bought a car to go on a trip to Europe. Just as they were leaving, the police received a phone call from Mr. Eckersley who stated that his wife had vanished, and that he could not locate the car. Missing persons posters were placed around town. A security camera caught a woman who fit his wife's description. Several days later, a letter arrived from her stating that she had been unfaithful, and that she could no longer go on. Sometime later her purse, her sweater, and an empty bottle of vodka were found on the beach.  It appeared to be suicide. The daughter never believed that her mother had committed suicide. She also stated that the suicide note did contain her mother's handwriting. The letter was examined, and within a few hours the dna found on the enveloped matched George Eckersley. Eckersley was apprehended at the airport. He was about to board a plane headed for Amsterdam. He admitted that he had written the suicide note, and that he had  killed his wife by hitting her with a candlestick, chopped her up, and took her to his job where he incinerated her. The person caught on camera was actually Mr. Eckersley dressed as a woman. People could not believe it. He had a reputation of being such a kind-hearted
man.