STEWART COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — As Kirby Wallace's court cases come to an end, new details have emerged about his crime spree and why prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
The double murder who terrorized two counties last year pleaded guilty to all charges in Stewart and Montgomery Counties in exchange for a life in prison sentence without the possibility of parole.
Wallace murdered Brenda Smith and nearly killed her husband Teddy in Stewart County.
NewsChannel 5 learned he rode a bicycle to their home and broke in while the couple was at church. They returned and surprised Wallace, who attacked them.
"I grabbed him around the neck and I punched him and he stabbed me in the side twice," Teddy Smith said while testifying in court.
Wallace took money and stole the couple's car.
Twelve days later, he was finally caught.
Authorities have still not recovered the car or the money Wallace stole from the Smiths.
Several things were considered when making the decision to not seek the death penalty.
Teddy Smith was one consideration. After surviving the attack, he simply could not endure a lengthy death penalty trial.
Instead, Wallace will now spend the rest of his days in a maximum security facility.
NewsChannel 5 learned Wallace plotted a jailbreak while awaiting trial.
He fashioned several metal keys as part of a plot to escape.
Wallace was also caught with meth.
Investigators always felt he had help.
"I think he had help planning it," said Stewart County Sheriff Frankie Gray. "I think he had help before he committed the robbery and the murder and he had help afterwards."
In recent weeks, three people, David Dover, Derek Summers and Mindy Elaine Harris, have been arrested in connection to Wallace.
