In this gripping true crime edition of The Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden are joined by criminal law expert Anthony Osso to dissect one of the most disturbing cases Houston has seen in years—the murder of Cameron Smith by his own son, Ryan Mitchell Smith. From a shocking crime spree to an insanity defense, the episode unpacks the legal twists, mental health implications, and courtroom drama surrounding this tragic and violent case. Was justice served? Could this crime have been prevented? And what happens when someone who stabs a police dog gets released—only to escalate to murder? Show Highlights: 00:01:00 – Introduction of guest expert Anthony Osso 00:02:22 – Breakdown of the timeline leading up to the murder 00:03:45 – Dog stabbing and legal implications for harming police K-9s 00:04:52 – Bail, bonding out, and the magistrate process explained 00:06:13 – Ryan Smith evades police twice, raising questions about public safety 00:07:02 – Discovery of the body and the brutal method of murder 00:08:30 – Discussion on whether bond was appropriate given the charges 00:09:12 – Legal explanation of entitlement to bail under Texas law 00:10:55 – Insanity as a legal defense: what qualifies, and why it's rarely successful 00:12:23 – Signs of premeditation and efforts to cover up the crime 00:13:02 – Lack of motive and its role in jury deliberation 00:14:01 – The deer meat ruse and how it factored into proving premeditation 00:15:03 – How Ryan fled to Bellville and how police eventually caught him 00:16:16 – Choosing between insanity and alternative defenses 00:17:12 – Expert testimony on drug-induced insanity 00:18:18 – Why the case wasn't streamed, but could have been 00:19:22 – Competency vs. insanity: legal distinctions explained 00:21:16 – Prosecutor strategy and potential use of the injured police dog in sentencing 00:22:20 – Life sentence in Texas and parole eligibility 00:24:01 – Prison logistics: what life behind bars looks like in Texas 00:25:17 – Forensic details: dumbbell as murder weapon, cause of death 00:26:26 – Prosecutors Kim and Lindsey praised for navigating an emotional trial 00:28:25 – Possible appeal issues: suppressed evidence, insanity plea, ineffective counsel 00:29:34 – Appeal process and what happens to Smith during it Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream—and don't forget to like and subscribe.

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