Who killed Fran Gladden Smith? ‘Dateline NBC’ explores New Jersey’s mystery behind two missing wives
NEW JERSEY, CALIFORNIA: Fran Gladden-Smith's disappearance in 1991 left her family and authorities baffled. Fran, who had married John Smith just a year and a half earlier, vanished from her West Windsor condo without a trace. Her sudden disappearance raised suspicions, especially considering her close ties to her family and the unusual circumstances surrounding her absence.
The case took a dark turn when investigators unearthed a disturbing connection to John Smith's past. Years earlier, in 1980, road workers discovered a makeshift coffin containing the remains of Janice Hartman, Smith's first wife.
Janice had vanished in 1974 under suspicious circumstances, shortly after her divorce from Smith. The grim discovery hinted at a pattern of violence and deception, implicating Smith in both disappearances.
As authorities delved deeper into the mysteries surrounding Fran's disappearance and Janice's murder, they uncovered a web of lies and deceit woven by Smith. His inconsistent stories and suspicious behavior only fueled suspicions of his involvement in both cases.
Despite extensive investigations and legal proceedings, many questions remain unanswered about Fran Gladden-Smith's fate and the true extent of John Smith's involvement in her disappearance and Janice Hartman's murder.
'Datelien NBC' Season 32 delves deep into this case, as Andrea Canning reports on the eerie story, featuring several prominent like Det Dave Mansue, Former Supervisory Special Agent Bob Hilland, Dedy Childers and Sherrie Davis.
Who was Fran Gladden-Smith?
Fran Gladden-Smith was a woman drawn into a tragic and enigmatic story of disappearance and suspected foul play. Originally named Betty Fran Gladden, she adopted the surname Smith upon marrying John Smith. Described by her close ones as compassionate and devoted to family, Fran maintained strong ties with her relatives and those around her.
In 1990, Fran married John Smith, despite only dating for a brief period of two months. The couple made their home in West Windsor, New Jersey, residing in a condominium. However, the facade of their seemingly typical life shattered when Fran disappeared without a trace in September 1991.
At the time of her disappearance, Fran was 49 years old. She was described as a warm and loving person by her family, making her sudden disappearance all the more bewildering. Despite efforts by law enforcement and Fran's family to uncover the truth, her whereabouts remained unknown, and her fate became a haunting mystery.
Fran's disappearance bore haunting similarities to another woman's vanishing, Janice Hartman, who was John Smith's ex-wife. This connection raised suspicions and intensified the investigation into Fran's case. However, without concrete evidence, no criminal charges were brought against John Smith for Fran's disappearance.
How many wives did John Smith have?
John Smith had multiple wives throughout his life. His first wife was Janice Hartman, whom he married when they were both quite young. They exchanged vows in 1970, fresh out of high school, but their young love was soon eclipsed by turmoil, leading to their divorce in 1974.
Janice's disappearance in 1974 marked the beginning of a tragic saga. John claimed that she had left for Florida, but her family never heard from her again. Suspicion surrounded John, especially after his brother, Michael, discovered a plywood box containing Janice's mutilated body in 1979. Despite this gruesome discovery, no immediate action was taken, allowing John to carry on with his life.
The case didn't attract attention until road workers stumbled upon the box in Indiana in 1980. Upon identification of the remains as Janice's, John was eventually convicted of her murder in 2001, receiving a sentence of 15 years to life in prison
John Smith's third wife remains relatively unknown, as details about her life and their marriage are scarce compared to the scrutiny surrounding his first two wives. Following the mysterious disappearances of both Janice Hartman and Fran Gladden-Smith, John entered into his third marriage.
Not much is publicly known about his third wife, including her identity or the circumstances of their relationship. However, it is documented that their marriage ended in annulment, suggesting that it was relatively short-lived or legally invalidated for some reason.
Why did John Smith kill his first wife?
The exact motive behind John Smith's killing of his first wife, Janice Hartman, remains unclear. However, several factors and events may have contributed to the crime.
John and Janice tied the knot when they were both quite young, around the age of 19. Their marriage was reportedly troubled, with Janice's family stating that John was abusive from the start. Janice also endured a traumatic experience of attempted rape, which could have further strained their relationship.
In 1974, Janice decided to leave John and sought a divorce. Shortly after their divorce was finalized, Janice vanished. John initially claimed she had departed for Florida, but her family found this explanation dubious, as Janice was close to them and would not have vanished without a trace.
Suspicion intensified when John's brother, Michael, stumbled upon a makeshift plywood box containing Janice's dismembered body. John had claimed he constructed the box for Janice's belongings, but it was later revealed to contain her mutilated remains.
The discovery of Janice's body and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance led to John's arrest and subsequent conviction for her murder. While the exact reason for Janice's killing remains unknown, the abusive nature of their relationship and John's potential desire to control or silence her could have been contributing factors.
Was John Smith behind Fran Gladden-Smith’s disappearance?
John Smith was suspected to be involved in Fran Gladden-Smith's disappearance. Fran, who married John Smith after his first wife's murder, vanished in 1991 under suspicious circumstances.
Fran's disappearance echoed eerie similarities to the case of John's first wife, Janice Hartman, who had gone missing in 1974. Just like Janice, Fran vanished without a trace, leaving her family deeply concerned and suspicious of John's involvement.
When Fran disappeared, John told her family that she had run off to Florida, similar to the explanation he gave for Janice's disappearance. However, Fran's family found this explanation dubious, especially considering Fran's close relationship with them. Despite their efforts to locate her, Fran was never heard from again.
While there was not enough evidence at the time to arrest John for Fran's disappearance, suspicions lingered, fueled by the unsettling parallels between Fran and Janice's cases. It wasn't until years later that investigators were able to connect John to Fran's disappearance, shedding light on the tragic fate of both women at the hands of the same man.
When was John Smith arrested?
In 2000, John Smith was arrested in Escondido, California, on charges related to the murder of his first wife, Janice Hartman. He was subsequently charged with Janice Hartman's murder and stood trial for the crime.
In July 2001, John Smith was convicted of Janice Hartman's murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Despite his efforts to appeal the conviction, Smith's appeal proved unsuccessful, and he remained incarcerated.
Smith's first parole date was set for 2011. However, given the gravity of his offense and the terms of his sentence, parole was denied at that juncture. Consequently, he remained incarcerated, serving out his sentence behind bars.
In 2019, John Smith faced a new legal ordeal when he was indicted for the 1991 murder of his second wife, Fran Gladden-Smith. However, by 2023, the case tied to Fran Gladden-Smith's murder was unexpectedly dropped, despite Smith's admission to disposing of her body. Presently incarcerated, Smith awaits his parole eligibility, scheduled for 2029.
'Dateline NBC' Season 32 airs new episodes every Friday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.