Lilius Landrum death: How Tony Rahmel Smith killed Lilius Landrum

How Lilius Landrum death happened – Lilius Landrum was killed by Tony Rahmel Smith, her husband on April 3rd 1998.

Tony Rahmel Smith decapitated Lilius Landrum, put her head in a bucket in the basement.

Reports say Lilius was alive when Tony Smith started decapitating her with a kitchen knife.

In the last years of her life, Lilius Landrum was making her way as an aspiring actress in Los Angeles when she returned to her hometown of Akron to care for her ailing mother.

43 year old Lilius Landrum married 23 year old Tony Smith, who was 20 years younger than her. She was his pen pal while he was in prison and then he met up with her upon release.

After a short courtship, they had a spiritual union and then shortly after he decapitated her and then put her head in bucket of urine.

Tony Smith did this because he was obviously crazy and it turns out the bucket was where they defecated because between the two of them, they could not afford to pay the water bill.

There are reports Tony killed Lilius right after Thanksgiving Dinner with her family. There are reports that he prayed (more like devil worshipped) over the food so long that night they had to re-heat it.

Lilius Landrum death

23 year old Tony Smith confessed and pled guilty to murdering Lilius Landrum in Akron Ohio on April 3rd 1998. He did so by decapitating her and placing her head in a bucket in his basement and her body behind a furnace.

He was up for parole in February 2013 which was denied. He was ordered to stay for another 10yrs and will be up for parole again in 2023.

Lilius Landrum’s niece released this statement to advise women in abusive relationships:

LADIES, If you are in a abusive relationship, please learn from my aunt’s murder and PLEASE LEAVE!

Dont warn them, dont tell them, just GO! Even if you cant afford too….You can eventually get money or clothes or a car but you can NEVER GET YOUR LIFE BACK!

Just thinking about my auntie today and remembering how I always wanted to be as pretty as her and as sweet as her…..

She just had a really bright light around her that attracted so many people…She is an unforgettable gem that is still treasured to this day….I’ll always love and miss her…

I bet she is such a beautiful angel!! Ill see her again one day;-) R.I.H. Friggy

Letter from Lilius Landrum mother to the Parole Board Before She Passed Away Jan. 5, 1999

To, Prosecuter
From: Betty Brown-Mother of Lilius Landrum
Subject: Tony R. Smith Court Case# 98-04-0875

Our hearts have been broken, our
lives changed forever. We lost a very dear
and precious daughter, sister and friend.

What Tony Smith has taken from us can
never be replaced. We will never forget
the horrifying way he took Lilius from us.

Our family embraced Tony with love and
kindness. This is how he repaid us.

Lilius nor ourselves could foresee the
treachery that laid in his heart. He
deluded us so thoroughly we never
questioned our safety.

I fear that if Tony Smith was ever
released, he could repeat this horrifying act.
I hope no other mother and family will ever
have to endure this terrible pain and loss
by Tony Smith’s hands again.

Sincerely,

Betty Brown

TONY RAHMEL SMITH INMATE INFORMATION:

Number: A367391
DOB: 07/03/1974
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Admission Date: 12/31/1998
Institution: Marion Correctional Institution
Status: INCARCERATED

Offense Information

MURDER Counts: 1 ORC: 2903.02 4
Committing County: SUMMIT Admission Date: 12/31/1998
Degree of Felony: MR
FAIL TO COMPLY Counts: 1 ORC: 2921.331 4
Committing County: FRANKLIN
Admission Date: 02/01/1999 Degree of Felony: Fourth

Sentence Information
Stated Prison Term: 1 year
Indefinite Sentence Min: 15 years
Indefinite Sentence Max: Life Sentence
Expiration of Max Sentence: Life Sentence

@LailaIjeoma