Phoenix man pleads not guilty to killing wife, 2 kids over affair claims

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man pleaded not guilty Friday in the murders of his wife, two young daughters and a family friend he believed his wife was having an affair with.

Austin Smith, 30, entered his plea in Maricopa County Superior Court for four counts of first-degree murder and other charges.

Smith is accused of murdering 29-year-old Dasia Patterson, 7-year-old Mayan Smith, 5-year-old Nasha Smith and 46-year-old Ron Freeman.

His wife and daughters were found dead in their home near 67th Avenue and Camelback Road earlier this month.

Patterson and the 5-year-old had been shot. The 7-year-old died from blunt-force trauma. A 3-year-old daughter was unharmed.

Smith was arrested April 11 as he fled from an apartment complex where officers found the body of Freeman, whom Smith believed was having an affair with his spouse.

Police also found a 47-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds at the location where Freeman was fatally shot.

Smith is next due in court June 7.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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