Tacoma, Washington – In a Pierce County courtroom, the family of Denise Smith gathered to witness the sentencing of the man responsible for her tragic death. 41-year-old Denise Smith, a security guard at a downtown building along Ninth Street, was brutally beaten to death in 2021 by 29-year-old Army Ranger Spc. Patrick Philip Byrne. Byrne faced the judge and received a 20-year prison sentence for his heinous actions.
Family members of Denise Smith, visibly emotional, expressed their pain and grief in court, seeking justice for their lost loved one. Dennis Mack, Denise’s older brother, voiced his unforgiving sentiments towards Byrne, wishing for him to face the consequences of his actions behind bars. Similarly, Alaina Mack, Denise’s sister, shared fond memories of her sister’s kind-hearted nature and infectious laughter, highlighting the devastating loss caused by Byrne’s senseless violence.
As the court proceedings unfolded, details emerged regarding Byrne’s destructive behavior that led to Smith’s tragic death. Despite Byrne’s legal team attributing his actions to past head injuries sustained during his military service, Judge Stanley J. Rumbaugh emphasized Byrne’s voluntary choices that night, which culminated in the brutal murder of Denise Smith.
Smith’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the Tacoma community, as she was found severely beaten and unconscious by Tacoma police officers, only two days into her new job. Surveillance footage implicated Byrne in the fatal attack, revealing the gruesome extent of the violence perpetrated against Smith. The attack, lasting nearly 10 minutes, involved Byrne violently assaulting Smith with her own keys and ultimately strangling her to death.
Byrne’s sentence for first-degree murder, though met with mixed emotions by Smith’s family, represents a step towards closure for the grieving loved ones. Tina Mack, Denise’s sister, expressed a sense of justice served with Byrne’s imprisonment, acknowledging that while nothing can undo the pain of their loss, seeing him held accountable provides some solace in their mourning. The courtroom drama surrounding Denise Smith’s tragic murder serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of senseless violence on families and communities.