A West Virginia man who as a teenager allegedly killed four members of his family, including a 3-year-old brother, was sentenced Monday to life in prison plus 80 years after pleading guilty to avoid facing a jury for a second time.
Gavin Blaine Smith, now 22, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder in the December 2020 killings inside their Elkview home. The victims were his mother Risa Mae Saunders, 39; stepfather Daniel Dale Long, 37; 12-year-old brother Gage Ripley; and 3-year-old brother Jameson Long.
Background
Smith was 16 years old when authorities say he fatally shot all four family members before fleeing the residence. His grandfather discovered the bodies several days later after becoming concerned he had been unable to reach the family, according to court records. Investigators determined each victim died from gunshot wounds.
Authorities later arrested Smith at a home in Clendenin, where investigators said they found him hiding behind a dress on the third floor. Court records alleged that blood belonging to his younger brothers was found on his clothing.
"The defendant obviously waived certain rights, and his right to appeal is one of those, so there's no chance of us having to come back and do this all over again. We are ensured that Gavin Smith will be locked up and sentenced to prison for the rest of his life," Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Debra Rusnak told WV MetroNews.
The Charges
Smith was originally convicted at trial in 2022 on charges including four counts of first-degree murder. However, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals overturned those convictions in 2025 after finding the trial judge committed reversible error by instructing jurors about Smith's parole eligibility because he had been a juvenile when the murders occurred.
Rather than face a second jury trial, Smith accepted a binding plea agreement last month that resolved the case. The negotiated sentence was imposed Monday by Kanawha County Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard, bringing the nearly six-year prosecution to a close.
"It's a tremendous relief to my office and the victims' family to be able to get some closure, finally have a resolution that allows everyone to move on, and to know we're not going to be back here a third time," Rusnak said.
Facebook messages between Smith and his then-girlfriend, Rebecca Walker, allegedly included admissions about the killings. Walker, who was 17 at the time, ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder in exchange for murder charges being dismissed.
Key Takeaways
- Gavin Blaine Smith was sentenced to life in prison plus 80 years after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder
- The victims were his mother Risa Mae Saunders, stepfather Daniel Dale Long, brother Gage Ripley, 12, and brother Jameson Long, 3
- Smith was a juvenile at the time of the December 2020 killings, making him eligible for parole after serving 15 years under state law
- His original 2022 conviction was overturned by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 2025 due to jury instruction error
- The plea agreement includes a recommendation that Smith serve his sentence at Mount Olive Correctional Complex
- Smith's then-girlfriend Rebecca Walker previously pleaded guilty to accessory charges related to the killings
What's Next
Because Smith was a juvenile when the murders occurred, state law makes him eligible for parole after serving 15 years. Prosecutors said they hope the parole board will ensure he remains incarcerated for the rest of his natural life. The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation will make the final placement decision regarding Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
"Whether he gets parole or not will certainly be in the discretion of the parole board, but we hope that they will make the right decision and keep Gavin Smith locked away for the rest of his natural life," Rusnak said.