Hunter Smith Murder Update: Where Is The Killer Nick Vandenberg Idaho Today?

Hunter Smith was murdered by Nick Vandenberg in 2017. Where is the killer Nick Vandenberg Idaho today? Here’s what we know.

Hunter Smith was a youngster who was killed in 2017. He was a hitchhiker from Oregon who was shot to death while traveling through Idaho.

In October 2017, Nick Vandenberg along with two others was arrested for his murder. Here is the latest update on the brutal murder case.

Hunter Smith Murder Update

Hunter Smith was shot to death on June 22, 2017. His dead body was discovered in the Owyhee Desert.

The killers had burned down his clothing and dragged him into a ditch.

Smith’s remains were found four months later by local hunters. Reports suggest he died from at least one gunshot wound to his upper torso.

The killing remained under investigation by the Idaho State Police for a long time.

Eventually, Nick Vandenberg, Montanna R. Reed, and Willie K. Rabey were arrested and sentenced two years after the incident.

Hunter Smith’s killer Nick Vandenberg has been sentenced to life in prison.

The man from Melba city in Idaho received the sentence in August 2019.

He has been charged with first-degree murder and criminal conspiracy in the killing of Smith.

Two others involved in the case were Montanna R. Reed of twin Falls and Willie K. Rabey of Mountain Home.

They were charged guilty for first-degree murder, evidence destruction, and failure to notify the death.

Reed has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. His companion, Rabey was sentenced to 26 years behind the bars.

As stated by the court, Nick Vandenberg has to serve at least 30 years in prison to be eligible for parole.

Hunter Smith was an eighteen-year-old teenager. His birth name is Hunter Tash-Smith.

The youngster was a native of Junction City, Oregon. He is the son of Heather Smith, who was focusing on bringing her son home.

Tash-Smith was hitchhiking from Junction City near Eugene to Nebraska for an old job.

He had met the three of his killers and made plans to shoot guns with one of them.

Eventually, Nick Vandenberg fired at a close-range killing Hunter Smith.

Hunter’s family has described him as an old soul and too trusting of people. To help someone, he would have donated his shirt from his back.

To honor him his family had set up a fundraiser in GoFundMe in 2018. On October 2, the late teenager celebrated his 21st birthday.