Heroine rewarded

last updated 8 January 2015

Atlanta

Georgia officials last week gave $70,000 in rewards to Ashley Smith, the widowed mom who persuaded a rape defendant to end an alleged killing spree. Smith was forced into her apartment by Brian Nichols on March 12, after, according to witnesses, he overpowered a guard and took her gun, then murdered the judge presiding over his trial and three others. Smith, 26, said she told Nichols that his life wasn’t over, and that God might have intended him to preach the Gospel in prison. “My life is a testament that God can use us even in the midst of tragedy,” Smith said, “and miracles do happen.”