Accused Center City Doctor Killer Exposed Himself During Road Rage Incident
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Court documents show the man accused of murdering a doctor in Center City was charged in a road rage incident in March of last year.
The documents filed in Bucks County District Court reveal that more than 10 months before 36-year-old Jason Smith allegedly confessed to killing 35-year-old Dr. Melissa Ketunuti inside her Center City home, he was cited for disorderly conduct by Pennsylvania State Police for exposing himself to a woman during a road rage incident along I-95 in Bensalem.
Records show Smith plead guilty and paid a fine of nearly $300. No one was hurt in the incident.
Smith, in his alleged confession, claims he murdered Ketunuti after arriving at her home to do repairs, flying into a rage after, he says, the two had an argument and she began making fun of him.
Ketunuti's body was found on January 21 bound hand and foot and burned (see related story). Police say she had been beaten and strangled.
Investigators credit surveillance video for helping lead them to Smith (see related story).
The court documents surfacing now raise a new and troubling picture of the accused killer. Smith's attorney, contacted by CBS 3 Eyewitness News, declined comment.
Smith is being held without bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on February 13.
