In the early morning hours of June 17, 2009, Waxahachie police officers were dispatched to a medical call in the 100 block of Cumberland Road after a distress call was received at about 3:45 a.m. Upon arrival, officers were directed to a bedroom where they found the body of Jennifer Kinder-Smiles, a mother of three.

 

The Dallas County Medical Examiner Office later determined Kinder-Smiles’ death was a homicide and she died of a gunshot wound. She had been found by her 18-year-old daughter when she returned home early that morning from a friend’s house. There was no indication that entry was forced into the residence, and there was no indication of robbery or struggle.

​

 Kinder-Smiles had divorced in February 2007 and had just started to date again. Police interviewed people that she had become friends with and dated some but nothing came out of those interviews. The weapon has also not been recovered by police.

​

The family has offered up to an $11,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Kinder-Smiles’ death.  If you have a tip, contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line or the Waxahachie Police Department.