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Courtesy photo Accused murderer Jasper Smiddie is transported to the Polk County Jail on Thursday after being captured in Sebring on Wednesday.

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published: Thursday, February 09, 2012

Man accused in Polk Co. murder captured in Sebring

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssun.com

SEBRING -- Statewide attention turned towards Highlands County on Thursday after the Sheriff's Office apprehended a 20-year-man accused of brutally murdering his grandmother.

Jasper Aristotle-Brian Smiddie of 4890 Wales St. in Lake Wales was captured around 11 a.m. Wednesday after he left an abandoned home located at 5100 San Juan Dr. in Sun 'n Lake in Sebring.

A press release from Polk County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Carrie Eleazer stated that the abandoned home was near his girlfriend's house.

Smiddie was being sought on a warrant for first degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of his grandmother, Gloria M. Helfrich of Lake Wales, on Tuesday. The report states that with Smiddie was with his 14-year-old friend and neighbor, Charles "Charlie" Giem.

Helfrich's autopsy results showed that she received a crossbow arrow shot to the back of the head along with 58 stab wounds to the back, 34 stab wounds to the back of the head, one stab wound to the face and bruising to the face by a pipe wrench.

The arrest affidavit stated that Smiddie called his biological father, David Asbery in Tampa and stated he "did something stupid" and admitted that he had stabbed his grandmother.

When Asbery inquired how many times he had stabbed Helfrich, saying "One, two, 47?" Smiddie responded "closer to 47."

Asbery encouraged Smiddie to meet him in Tampa and then turn himself into the authorities, but Smiddie never showed, according to the warrant.

Smiddie was booked into Highlands County Jail Wednesday and was held in isolation under 15-minute suicide watch.

Smiddie was released into the in custody of the PCSO at 9:09 a.m. Thursday morning, according to HCSO Public Information Officer Nell Hays.

"Polk county is taking the lead in handling this case, as they should," Hays added.

Hays said that finding Smiddie was a combined effort of several agencies within Polk County and Highlands County, and Smiddie was discovered while detectives were searching abandoned homes. The PCSO press release states that Smiddie is cooperating with detectives.