Recent photographs of Alan Smith, the 44-year-old man accused of killing eight family members in Billings, Montana, have emerged, drawing significant attention online. The New York Post published these images, which quickly went viral.
As the investigation continues, friends of the victims have come forward to describe concerning behaviors exhibited by Smith prior to the tragic event. These accounts may provide crucial context as authorities seek to understand the circumstances surrounding the massacre.
What warning signs did friends flag?
The pictures show Smith with members of his family, including his sister Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, who was among those killed in the August 23 attack. Smith had allegedly left home weeks ago and returned to the family’s 4,000-square-foot home before committing the murder-suicide, according to Yellowstone County authorities. Megan’s four children and stepchildren, along with her parents, Barbara, 72, and Dana Smith, 73, and grandma, Evelyn Smith, 92, were among the ones who were killed.
Officials have not announced an official motive.
Authorities said that Smith fatally shot eight relatives, set the house ablaze and then died by suicide. Kelsey Granger, Megan Ireland-Ghekiere’s longtime friend and maid of honour at both of her weddings, told the New York Post that Smith had displayed behaviour she now views as concerning. Granger said that he left the family home in late July without telling relatives where he was going. He had no income as far as I know,” Granger told the NYP. Granger also alleged that Smith was “verbally abusive” towards his sister and occasionally also towards her two children, Chloe, 7, Owen, 13, Charlotte, 12, and Landon Ghekiere, 15. Recalling the night of the tragedy, Granger said that Megan had contacted her hours before the shooting to discuss plans for Christmas and seeing The Nutcracker. However, interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said Wednesday that law enforcement had received no prior calls involving Smith or the family home before the attack. “Her daughter is five weeks younger than my son,” Granger said. “She was a really strong and kind person,” Granger said, recalling Megan’s years as a single mother before she remarried Adam Ghekiere.
“He didn’t have a job. She added that the family, however, did not believe he was violent despite his behavior. “I know he was verbally abusive towards Megan occasionally as well as her children. He hadn’t been very nice to her children when he left. Later that evening, Megan’s husband, Adam, called to say the family home was on fire. “I immediately called her. Her phone went to voicemail. Her mom’s phone went to voicemail,” Granger recalled. She later learned that Megan and the rest of the family had been killed. Granger described Megan as a devoted mother and one of her closest friends. The pair shared matching butterfly tattoos and remained in daily contact despite living in different states. Megan and Granger made it a point to chat every day and see each other several times a year, and they shared several significant life events, such as being pregnant at the same time. Granger added, “She was a single mom for the majority of her time as being a mom to Owen and Chloe.
