Death of murder suspect’s girlfriend called a suicide

BOTHELL — The girlfriend of Alan Justin Smith, the Bothell man accused of killing his estranged wife early last year, died April 8 in Seattle.

According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Love Thai committed suicide. Marks around her neck indicate she died from a rope or something around her neck.

Thai lived at Pacific Court in Tukwilla. The apartment manager could not confirm if Thai had died in her home.

Thai told the Reporter in July 2013 she was pregnant with Smith’s child and there was an ultrasound photo posted to her personal Facebook account around the same time. The Medical Examiner’s Office could not confirm whether Thai was pregnant at the time of her death.

Lawyers for Smith asked a judge to push back his murder trial so they could have more time to prepare. Smith’s trial date was moved to June 13, according to Craig Matheson, senior deputy prosecuting attorney at Snohomish County Prosectors Office.

“While certainly tragic, I don’t think (Thai’s death) will affect the trial at all,” Matheson said.

Smith, who pleaded not guilty in July, is accused of killing his estranged wife Susann Smith in February 2013.

She was beaten and drowned.

Alan Smith moved back into the home with Love Thai in April 2013 and had hopes of regaining custody of his two young children, who had been taken by state Child Protective Services.

Police were called to Alan Smith’s home for various incidents during May 2013, including a report of the couple having sex in the front yard and for a domestic disturbance.

When Alan Smith was charged June 28, he said his life was in “chaos.” He stated that he was over his head “with Love Thai and her mental issues,” according to charging documents.

Alan Smith has been jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.