TYLER, Texas – A man from Tyler, Texas, pleaded guilty to the murder of two dentists at Affordable Dentures in 2022. Steven Alexander Smith, 42, was arrested in March of that year after Dr. Jack Burroughs Jr. and Dr. Blake Sinclair were shot and killed at their place of business. Smith was charged with the capital murder of multiple persons.
In a court session on Monday, Smith entered a guilty plea to the charge in Judge Debby Gunter’s court. District Attorney Jacob Putman stated that Smith accepted an automatic life sentence for the capital murder conviction. The plea brings some closure to the victim’s families, who have been waiting for this day for a long time.
The investigation found that Smith was a former patient at the clinic and had become upset with clinic staff before the shooting. He then returned to the business with a handgun and ultimately shot the two doctors who were working inside the clinic. In November, the district attorney’s office announced that they would not be seeking the death penalty in Smith’s case.
Monday’s hearing was supposed to mark the beginning of Smith’s trial by jury. This tragic incident has left a lasting impact on the community and the families of the victims. Smith’s guilty plea ensures that he will not be released from prison, providing some measure of justice for the families affected by this heinous crime.