On Thursday, Feb. 4, the now-45-year-old became a free man -- a moment his daughter Nakira Fantroy has been waiting for. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder and felony firearm on Nov. 29, 1994, in the death of Kenneth Hayes when Smith was only 19 years old. There was no conclusive forensic evidence that linked Mr. Smith to the case,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. “There was testimony in the case from a jail house informant claiming that Smith had confessed the murder to him. The dismissal of charges comes after an investigation by Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the WCPO Conviction Integrity Unit, headed by director Valerie Newman.