Woman uses voice recorder app to document her own murder

A Schuylkill Township man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his girlfriend to death earlier this month, as she recorded the incident with a voice recorder app on her cellphone.

Keith Smith, 43, allegedly shot Wesley Webb, 40, during a late-night argument on May 2 while three young children slept upstairs in their Buckwalter Road home.

Webb told Smith during an argumentthat she was going to leave with two of the children, according to a statement from the Chester County District Attorney’s office. After some more fighting, Smith allegedly grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun while his girlfriend sat on the living room couchand shot her once in the chest.

One of the children — all of whomcame downstairs and saw the scene—called 911, according to authorities. Police said Smith also shot himself in the face, but failed to kill himself.

Investigators said the retrieved audio recording from Webb’s phone captured Smith saying “you want to record it now, bitch?” Then, a gunshot is heard.

After the shot, Smith is allegedly heard to say “F–k you! How’s that. That’s where we just went.”

Smith is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime and endangering the welfare of children. He is being treated at an area hospital, authorities said.

“This was a savage, selfish, and cowardly murder,” District Attorney Tom Hogan said in a statement. “The defendant did not hesitate to kill his girlfriend. But he flinched when it came to killing himself. Now, the victim is dead, the defendant is alive, and three kids have been badly traumatized.”

Smith is not eligible for bail, due to the nature of his crimes, prosecutors said. Following his recovery, Smith will be transferred to Chester County Prison.