This is a story of a man named Glenn Allen Smith who is currently in jail in Nevada, Iowa, for allegedly stabbing and killing Daniel McGonigle. I am responding to several comments made in the press.

In the Dec. 30, 2009, edition of the Ames Tribune, an article stated that, according to testimony, McGonigle was the one who attacked Glenn. It also said McGonigle was still enraged and began cursing obscenities at the medics when they arrived, swearing he would kill the person responsible. Does this sound like an innocent victim to you? Someone who physically attacks another human being and then states that he will kill him?

Several other articles have also made reference to Glenn being in prison in the past for a similar crime.

In the Dec. 8, 2009, edition of the Ames Tribune, it was stated that Glenn was released in 1997 from a prison in Oklahoma but was incarcerated on various other crimes until 2001.

On Jan. 15, in the Ames Tribune, Story County Attorney Stephen Holmes stated that Glenn was indigent and implied that he had been since 2001.

Now, the media have gone from stating that McGonigle suffered several stab wounds to 20 stab wounds, and in one story it was even 30.

The numerous stories that have been written about Glenn have painted a picture of a monster. I intend to paint another picture for you, a more accurate one at that.

To many of you, this man is Glenn Allen Smith, the killer. For me it’s just “Hot Rod,” my brother.

Just within this past week, I learned of my brother being in jail in Iowa.

I want the world to see the man that I knew my whole life.

He has never been a violent person.

As a child he couldn’t even stomach the site of blood. I remember it as though it were yesterday; we were kids going to the doctor together to get our immunizations.

I had to go first, as he was too scared, and the moment he saw blood on my arm he ran into the hall and began to vomit.

He was always very tenderhearted and would never hurt anyone without provocation.

Before our mother passed away — I was 7 and he was 9 — she made him promise to always look out for me.

He was my hero and would always come to my defense in the face of a bully. He loves his family and has always had a protective nature.

I implore you to have compassion, to walk a mile in my brother’s shoes.

Would you not fight to your death — or possibly and unfortunately to your attacker’s death — in order to defend a family member or yourself?

I know that I would. My brother and I, along with five other siblings, did not have an easy childhood.

We endured losing our mother from cirrhosis of the liver, foster homes, living from relative to relative, neglect and emotional turmoil from seeing things we should have never seen as children.

I am in no way making these references to invoke pity, but simply in hopes to evoke some compassion.

In reference to the charge in Oklahoma in 1985, imagine a 21-year-old young man with a wife, two small boys and a job to support them, who happens upon the wrong person at the wrong time.

A man you simply needed a ride from and ends up changing the course of your life.

A large homosexual man, who starts trying to touch you inappropriately, and then physically attacks you.

Would you panic? Would you let him have his way with you? Would you fight for your life, or just let him take it from you?

You would do exactly what I believe my brother did: You would defend yourself to the death.

Yes, my brother fought for his life, and yes the only means that he had to save himself was a small pocket knife.

Imagine how traumatizing this would be for anyone, much less a 21-year-old.

It was shown in court that the one wound was an upward thrust — Glenn was defending himself, not attacking.

Put yourself in his shoes for just a moment.

If someone were attacking you and the only thing you had in your possession to strike back with were a magazine lighter, a hammer, a fork, a pair of scissors or any item for that matter, would you not reach for it in order to save your life from someone who is literally trying to choke the life out of you?

My brother is not a cold-blooded killer.

Now you can ask yourself, is this someone who walks through life victimizing others or is he in fact an unfortunate soul who was physically attacked not once, but twice in his life, being left with the unfortunate necessity to defend his own life?

My brother was released in 2001 at which time I sent him a bus ticket and invitation to come to Wilson, N.C., and live with myself and my two children.

I have photos, taken Dec. 25, 2001, that show “Uncle Hot Rod” enjoying his first Christmas since the age of 21.

While he was here, he obtained a drivers license and worked two jobs.

One year later he went back to our home state of Oklahoma, where he worked several jobs, stayed with two different siblings and also had a place of his own.

It was only after an apparent breakdown that he turned to the streets to live.

Imagine having almost 20 years of your life taken from you.

In the meantime your kids grow up without you, your father passes away, you miss out on everything in life.

Imagine the mental state that one must be in after enduring such a life and simply because you valued your life enough to fight for it. Because you were not in the position to afford an attorney of your choosing.

As stated in the Tribune, the conviction of second-degree murder in the McGonigle case was thrown out because District Court Judge William Pattinson found the verdict was “contrary to the evidence’s weight.”

There was another knife found at the scene, with blood on it, according to testimony in the McGonigle trial.

However, they couldn’t determine whether it was human or animal blood.

Please, this was in 2009. What kind of test did they run? Could the other knife have been used by Larry Fowler, who had also been in conflict with McGonigle earlier, according to testimony?

This would explain the many wounds, as well as the two- and four-inch wound lengths. Yet the attorney is still going after my brother with a vengeance.

I am pleading with anyone who may read this, who is willing to advocate for my brother’s release, or may have further information regarding this case to please come forward before it is too late.

Please don’t let them take away what little life my brother has left.

Tammy LaDawn Smith is the sister of Glenn Allen Smith.