On the ominous day of March 18, 1988, the life of Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett came to a tragic end
Born on December 10, 1942, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Elizabeth, a 45-year-old resident of Alabama, met a gruesome fate orchestrated by none other than her husband, Charles Sennett Sr.
This article delves into the details of her life, the shocking events leading to her demise, and the subsequent investigation.
Husband Became Murder Mastermind
Elizabeth’s seemingly ordinary life took a dark turn when her husband, Charles Sennett Sr., a pastor at the Westside Church of Christ, revealed a shocking side.
Court records unveiled Charles’s involvement in an extramarital affair and financial struggles. In a chilling decision, he plotted Elizabeth’s murder to claim insurance proceeds.
Charles enlisted the help of his tenant, Billy Gray Williams, who then introduced him to Kenneth Smith and John Parker, the assailants willing to carry out this heinous act for $1,000 each.
The Grim Murder And Investigation
- On that fateful day in 1988, Colbert County police discovered Elizabeth’s lifeless body in her Coon Dog Cemetery Road home. Initially thought to be a break-in, it unraveled as a premeditated murder by Charles himself.
- The investigation exposed Elizabeth’s courageous struggle before her untimely demise. Charles, the prime suspect, confessed to his sons before taking his own life.
- The police apprehended Kenneth Smith and John Parker, leading to trials and convictions. Parker faced the death penalty, executed by lethal injection on June 10, 2010.
Elizabeth Dorlene Sennett’s Early Life
Born on December 10, 1942, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Elizabeth’s formative years in Cleveland were shared with her sister, Sheila Lynn Thorne.
Described as a remarkable individual with a compassionate heart, her life tragically concluded at 45.
Charles Sennett, His Unfortunate Case
Ronnie May vividly recalls the emotional turmoil that enveloped the Sennett family.
The two sons, now grown men, experienced a range of emotions from pain to anger as they grappled with the horrifying reality of their mother’s murder.
The scars of that fateful day continue to haunt them, as they prepare to attend the scheduled execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, one of the three men convicted in the heinous crime.
Charles Sennett: His Personal Life
In the quiet town of Colbert County, a gruesome murder-for-hire plot unfolded over 35 years ago, forever altering the lives of the Sennett family.
The victim, Elizabeth Sennett, met her tragic end on March 18, 1988, in what initially appeared to be a senseless home invasion and robbery.
A Shocking Discovery
On March 18, 1988, Ronnie May, then chief investigator of the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office, received a distressing call from Charles Sennett, a Church of Christ pastor.
What awaited May at the Sennett residence on Coon Dog Cemetery Road was a scene of horror – Elizabeth Sennett, the pastor’s wife, brutally stabbed and beaten with a fireplace implement.
Little did May know that this was the beginning of a gruesome murder-for-hire saga.
The Gruesome Plot Unfolds
Charles Sennett Sr. claimed he had discovered his wife’s lifeless body, but investigators soon unveiled a sinister truth.
The murder-for-hire scheme, orchestrated by the pastor himself, was staged to appear as a home invasion and burglary.
Elizabeth Sennett had fought valiantly in her final moments, leaving behind a chilling tale of despair
A Fateful Friday: The Day That Haunts The Sennett Brothers
Mike Sennett vividly recalls that fateful Friday morning, a seemingly ordinary day that took a dark turn. “You get up, you go to work, you think everything is fine,” he explains.
Little did he know that this day would become etched in his memory forever.
The call came, and everything changed. “You rush, rush, rush. But mom’s gone,” Mike Sennett recounts, revealing the immediate aftermath of the shocking news.
News About The Murder Case And Charles Sennett
JE, KENNETH SMITH NI NANI?
Kenneth Eugene Smith (Julai 4, 1965 – Januari 25, 2024) alikuwa muhalifu wa mauaji wa kukodishwa marekani aliyehukumiwa kwa mauaji ya Elizabeth Sennett mnamo Machi 18, 1988, katika county ya Colbert, Alabama.
Charles Sennett Sr mchungaji na ambae ni… pic.twitter.com/nhjGGKS7MG
— 𝗣 𝗔 𝗕 𝗟 𝗢 🦁 (@KingPablotz) January 26, 2024
“We were shocked,” Chuck Sennett admits. “When he took his life, we knew something was wrong. There was more there than we knew about.”
A Deadly Alliance: The Conspirators Behind The Murder
Investigations unveiled a sinister plot orchestrated by Charles Sennett, who hired Billy Williams to carry out the heinous act.
Williams, in turn, enlisted the help of Kenneth Smith and John Parker to complete the job.
Williams received a life sentence, while Parker faced execution in 2010. Now, after 35 years, the final chapter awaits Kenneth Smith.
Reflections On Justice Delayed
Mike Sennett reflects on the prolonged journey, stating, “Here we are 35 years later still talking about it.
The man’s been in prison right at twice as long as we knew our mom.” The impending execution brings a mix of emotions, closure, and reflection on the time that has passed.
A Murder With Puzzling Elements
As the investigation unfolded, doubts cast shadows over the initial assumption of a routine robbery.
Chuck Sennett points out the perplexing details, stating, “Mom still had $400 in her purse… She had money in her purse and some other valuables laying around at the same time too. So we didn’t understand that.
They took a VCR but left a purse.” The inconsistency in the crime scene left the brothers questioning the motives behind their mother’s brutal murder.
The Convictions And Denials
Court records paint a grim picture of Charles Sennett Sr.’s involvement in the murder-for-hire plot.
Recruiting Billy Gray Williams, who then enlisted Smith and John Forrest Parker, Sennett orchestrated the gruesome act.
Motivated by an affair, substantial debts, and a hefty insurance policy on his wife’s life, the pastor’s dark intentions unfolded.
Forgiveness As A Balm
- Despite the anguish, the Sennett brothers emphasize forgiveness as an essential aspect of their healing process. “I forgive Parker. I forgive Williams. I forgive Smith,” Mike Sennett asserts. While acknowledging the gravity of their actions, forgiveness serves as a means to lift the burden from their shoulders.
- As Kenneth Smith faces the consequences of his actions, the Sennett brothers remain resolute in attending his execution. Despite their 35-year wait for closure, the brothers express a desire for acknowledgment from the perpetrators, knowing it may never come.
- In their poignant journey of loss and forgiveness, the Sennett brothers exemplify strength and resilience, leaving an indelible mark on a story that transcends time.
Charles Sennett: The Victim, The Motive, Tragic Scheme, Aftermath And Tragic End
In a chilling turn of events, Kenneth Eugene Smith is set to make history as the first person in the world to be executed using nitrogen gas, all for his involvement in the 1988 murder of Elizabeth Sennett.
While the execution was initially intended to be carried out through lethal injection in 2022, it was botched due to complications in finding suitable veins.
This raises a critical question: Who was Elizabeth Sennett, and what drove Smith to commit such a heinous act?
The Victim: Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Sennett’s Life And Untimely Death
Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Dorlene Thorne Sennett met a tragic end on March 18, 1988, at the age of 45 in Sheffield, Alabama.
Married to Charles Sennett Sr., a pastor, Liz was a devoted mother to two sons, Charles Sennett Jr. and Mike Sennett.
Described as an “all-American housewife” by her son Chuck, Liz played multiple roles, being a homemaker, confidant, and a pillar of values for her family.
The Motive: A Web Of Deceit And Financial Struggles
Charles Sennett Sr. found himself entangled in financial difficulties and sought a way out by capitalizing on insurance payouts following his partner’s death.
Fearing Liz’s discovery of their precarious financial state, Charles hired Billy Gray Williams to end her life.
Williams, in turn, enlisted the help of Kenneth Eugene Smith and John Forrest Parker, promising them $1,000 each for their roles.
The Tragic Scheme Unfolds: A Murder Framed As A Home Invasion
The murder was cunningly framed as a home invasion gone wrong. Charles Sr.’s desperate attempt to collect insurance money led to the involvement of Smith and Parker in this gruesome act.
Williams received a life sentence, while Smith and Parker were initially sentenced to death in 1989. After a retrial in 1996, they faced the same fate.
The Aftermath: Failed Executions And A Shift To Nitrogen Gas
John Forrest Parker met his end through lethal injection in 2010, but Smith’s execution faced multiple setbacks.
In November 2022, a failed attempt to administer a lethal injection prompted Alabama to consider nitrogen gas as an alternative method.
Smith’s scheduled execution on January 25, 2024, marks the first instance of this method being employed globally.
Charles Sennett Sr.’s Shocking Revelation And Tragic End
Sheriff Ronnie May, present at the crime scene in 1988, recalled Charles Sr.’s strange reaction upon learning that Liz was found with a pulse.
A week later, during questioning, Charles Sr. confessed to orchestrating his wife’s murder, admitted to infidelity, and subsequently took his own life.
Both Charles Sr. and Elizabeth now rest in a joint grave, leaving behind a tale of deception, tragedy, and loss