News 12 at eleven o'clock -- Wednesday, August 25, 2010

AIKEN, S.C. --- Aiken Public Safety Officers and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division have released new details involving the murder of Ann Smith.

A SLED expert has developed a criminal profile of her killer. It does not describe any specific person, but a general idea of who may have killed the Aiken County teacher.

It's been more than two years since Ann Fox Smith was found stabbed to death in her Aiken home.

For family and friends of the Kennedy Middle School teacher and mother of three, the mystery has been unbearable.

"We just keep waiting and waiting and waiting, and nothing happens," says Jennifer Morlan, a fellow teacher and close friend of Ann's.

For more than two years, she and other friends and family have played the waiting game.

So far, no suspects and no arrests. But Tuesday's news conference brings a better idea of who may be responsible.

"It was not a rape gone wrong, not a burglary gone wrong or a robbery gone wrong," says SLED behavioral analyst Michael Prodan. "This was strictly personal with the victim."

Aiken Public Safety investigators sought out Lt. Prodan to create a criminal profile. He believes the killer is a man who knew Ann and was familiar with her patterns. He says the killer saw her as "a problem."

"The individual's problem was solved by the murder," he says.

Investigators believe there are people in the community with more information on the case or who may be hiding the killer. Lt. Prodan says those people may be hiding him out of fear or loyalty, but the purpose of the news conference is to convince them to come forward.

Among the family and friends in the news conference was Ann's sister, Helen Morgan.

"Satisfaction would have been if they had announced they've made an arrest," she says after the announcement. "I'm satisfied that they're continuing to work and I appreciate that."

Helen asked for more details, including personality of the killer, but Lt. Prodan declined to discuss those details. Helen says the report confirms what she already knew.

"After two and a half years, everybody has to have an idea," she says.

"There was no break in," Jennifer adds. "It wasn't a stranger off the street."

Still, no concrete answers, but a promise from investigators:

"This investigation, this department will not stop until the individual that is responsible is apprehended," Lt. Prodan says.

And for those who knew and loved Ann Fox Smith, that day can't come soon enough.

"Every day. Every day. I keep a picture of her on my mantle, I keep one on my desk at school," Jennifer says. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss her."

"There's never enough," Helen adds. "There's never enough until the case is solved."

So far, investigators have cleared Ann's youngest son and daughter of the murder, but not publicly cleared her oldest son or estranged husband. They add that they have tried to interview others who knew Ann, but some are still not cooperating.

Aiken Public Safety and SLED are asking anyone with information to call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line: 1-888-CRIME-SC.