Principal Suspect: The True Story of Dr. Jay Smith and the Main Line Murders

by William C. Costopoulos

In the early hours of June 25, 1979, a gruesome scene unfolded. The body of Susan Reinert, a suburban Philadelphia high school teacher, was found jammed into the hatchback of a car. She was in the fetal position. She was naked. Her two young children were missing.Thus began one of the most prominent murder cases in Pennsylvania's history. The Main Line murders, as they came to be known, would grip the nation and become the target of a seven-year investigation by the FBI and the Pennsylvania State PoliceDthe most massive homicide investigation in American history. The main suspect in the brutal murder turned out to be Jay Smith, the Principal of Upper Merion High School, where Reinert taught.

The local and national media went on a rampage, especially as rumors of Smith's bizarre sexual habits emerged. There was one sensational headline after another about the "Prince of Darkness". There was a TV miniseries. Yet the truth, the whole truth, was never told.

Until now. This legal drama is about crossing the fine. It's about fixing cases, rigging testimony, plandng evidence, and overzealous prosecutors. William Costopoulos, Smith's lawyer, takes you inside the case, right to the heart of the cover-ups, the corruption, and finally to the floor of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. You'll read portions of the actual transcripts. You'll meet the players in the case. You'll hear Costopoulos argue for Smith's life and fight for truth.

Even if you know the outcome, this story will grip you with breathtaking suspense, and at times, make you want to rage at a legal system that went haywire. To this day, Susan Reinert's murderer has never been conclusively identified. The bodies of her childrenhave never been found. Many people think they know exactly who the real murderer is. But ultimately, when a legal system fails so miserably, it is you who must weigh the evidence. Did Jay Smith do it? It is you who must decide.t

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Few individuals are more eminently qualified than author William Costopoulos to write a novel in which the US criminal justice system plays a key role. A political science graduate of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, he went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, where he was valedictorian and achieved cum laude status. He received his LLM from Harvard University.

Attorney Costopoulos served honorably in the US Army and, early in his career, prosecuted cases as a deputy district attorney in Dauphin County, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Thereafter, he defended high-profile cases in a career that spanned four decades. He continues to practice law in the firm of Costopoulos, Foster & Fields, located in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his professional memberships, he has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards for legal distinction and proficiency and, recently, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Legal Intelligencer, a well-known Philadelphia-based publication and legal organization. Honorees are chosen for their impact in shaping Pennsylvania’s laws and positive contributions to the legal community.

His five previously published books have garnered rave reviews. While three are fiction, the others are first-hand accounts of famous cases in which Costopoulos himself served as defense counsel.

Reviews

[John Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was the Defense Attorney for Dr. Smith. He was convicted and later his conviction was overturned. The misconduct of the state was so great that a retrial was not ordered, as often happens, he was discharged,

Anyone who has read Echoes in the Darkness should read this.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most amazing thing about this book was that our host, Janine, called Bill Costopolous and asked him if he would like to join us for our book discussion. Amazingly enough, he did. Just a fascinating evening!

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mystery made more interesting because of the local history and the fact that the author attended our meeting.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating true crime book. The events depicted occurred no far from where I lived, but I was not aware of them. This is a good book for true crime enthusiasts.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't easy to read. The story itself was a bit confusing. On one hand, I believed that Jay Smith was guilty; but on the other, I believed that he was innocent. In the end, however, it doesn't really matter because that is not what this case was about.

The true importance of this case has to do with the concept of being presumed innocent until proved guilty and the guarantee of a fair trial. One thing I am sure of, after reading this book, is that Jay Smith was not given a fair trial and that in and of itself is a true crime.

Having been blamed for things I haven't done in my own life (on a much lesser scale - like eating candy I did not eat - I could sympathize with Smith. However, this was murder! The consequences were grave, in this case, and it scares me to think of those put to death for crimes they did not commit.

[K.A. Krisko · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the DNF shelf for 'Did Not Finish" - read about 3/4 of it. I think my main problem was that I read this just after Wambaugh's Echoes in the Darkness and a lot of the info was a repeat. Plus, the author seemed to exaggerate, repeat conversations he couldn't have been present for, and gloat over the discomfort of others, which made him somewhat unlikable. Wambaugh managed to do the same thing and remain likable. So, the book suffered in comparison. By the time I quit, I still didn't really know what to think of Jay Smith. You'd think his defense attorney could make it crystal clear why he couldn't have been guilty.

[Jacqueline Homan · Rating 5 out of 5]

True story exposing the corruption in American jurisprudence in the death penalty case of "the Main Line Murders." William Costopulous was the attorney representing the wrongly charged and convicted former Upper Merrion High School principal, Dr. Jay C. Smith in the triple homicide of English teacher Susan G. Reinert and her two children in June of 1979. He was exonerated by the PA State Supreme Court in September of 1992. Anyone concerned with human rights violations surrounding the death penalty in America should read this book.

[JoyAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read on an old case

Had read Joseph Wambaugh's "Echoes in the Darkness" on this murder but took a chance on yet another book on the same case. I was not disappointed and held my interest throughout. Also brought me up to date on the latest information. A Good true crime read that I truly enjoyed

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I ever have to be in a courtroom again, it had better be as a juror.

[Francine Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend William Costopoulos" Principal Suspect which details the trial of Jay C. Smith for the murders of Susan Reinert and her two children (the infamous "Mainline Murders"). Costopoulos served as Smith's defense attorney for the trial (for which Smith was convicted and sentenced to death). He continued to represent Smith in the followup appeals in which Costopoulos laid out, not only the egregious and prejudicial rulings at trial (admission of the most unbelievable litany of hearsay, for one thing) and the subsequent discovery of gross prosecutorial and police misconduct in the handling of the case. Having read Joseph Wambaugh's Echoes in the Darkness (probably the most famous book on the case) many years ago when it originally came out, and having seen the blockbuster made-for-TV mini-series which shortly followed, I was completely sold on Wambaugh's version of events, but then again, I was young and naive. Wambaugh painted a beyond creepy and depraved portrait of Smith who was accused as the murdering accomplice of William Bradford, Susan Reinert's boyfriend and convenient recipient of Reinert's estate and some six-figure insurance policies taken out by the victim shortly before her death. Bradford was also convicted for the murders. In rereading Echoes, I am astonished that Wambaugh (a so-called "cop's cop") didn't hone in on the many months when Bradford was obviously lying through his teeth to his gullible coterie of fellow academics to set Smith up for the murder he himself was planning. (It's almost as if Wambaugh was buying Bradford's ridiculous story, or maybe he just decided that this depiction of Smith as evil incarnate, complete with little goat hooves, was just too good for his book.) Costopoulis' book gives us a more balanced, less sensational, and objective account of events. And while he acknowledges that Smith is indeed a very odd individual and no choir boy (if not the Mafia hitman/devil-costume-wearing Prince of Darkness/dungeon master of Bradfield's imagination and narrative), the evidence and motive for Smith to murder this woman and her children are pretty much nonexistent. Smith was essentially tried in the press and railroaded by a prosecutor and police force who were involved in suppression of and tampering with evidence, suborning perjury, and bribery, and that is just for starters. Read this book if you want to get a fairer reading of this case. I applaud Costopoulis for a really excellent, compelling read, but more importantly, for standing up and fighting for the very essence of our justice system, a FAIR TRIAL for all accused.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 3.5 stars**
Was he guilty or was he not guilty?

I honestly don't know how I feel in regards to Jay C. Smith's guilt or innocence after reading this book. Costopoulos makes an interesting case, I feel like I do need to go out and read Echoes in the Darkness so I can get the other side of the story.

This is definitely a bias book, Costopoulos has an interest in portraying Jay. C. Smith as an innocent man, and therefore, I don't know how much faith to put in his word.

What I do believe though is that, guilty or innocent, Jay C. Smith did not receive a fair trial. Some of the things the prosecution almost go away with is crazy, and I don't blame Costopoulos as all for trying to change the Double Jeopardy law in order to prevent this happening again. If Jay C. Smith was guilty, then the prosecution really let the public down by mishandling this case.

Definitely an interesting read.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I'd never heard of this case before, except in researching the books written about it. I wisely chose this book instead of Wambaugh's, glad I did. Ironically, amazon lists Echoes in the Darkness as additional reading. It would be a farce, not to mention waste of money, imo.

Costopoulos presents this case in honest, non-judgemental fashion and integrity. Too bad the justice system is so slow, worse that people can remain so biased in the face of facts. Great read, loved the humor interjected into such a serious story.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

I found out about Dr. Smith's case being over turned from an interview with Mumia Abu Jamal back in the middle 90s.

Was Mrs. Reinert a part of a cult? Was Bradfield and his sycophants part of a cult? Did the sycophants murder the children?

It's pretty sad that nobody has admitted to knowing of the last moments of the Reinert's family's lives.

Good work by Dr. Smith's defense attorney who happens to have also authored the book.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Costopoulos outlines the, sadly not so unbelievable miscarriages of justice that occurred during the Jay C Smith murder trial, adding more layers to this already baffling murder case, leading readers to once again believe that there are many unknowns to the story.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remembering the incidents and some of the people working on the case and one of the reporters made it almost a five-star book for me.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is worth reading. It's a little repetitive but is not only about a murder and two sensational trials but about the justice system as well. Joseph Wambaugh wrote a book about this case but only got half the story. The book, Echoes in the Darkness, was published and a movie made from it years before the final story played out. William Costopoulos is the defense attorney for Jay Smith. It's hard to believe the descriptions of the way a prisoner can be treated in this country.

[john d chontos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very convoluted but interesting tale of overreach of government.

This is what happens when conviction rates mean more that civil rights. We need better oversight of all criminal and civil cases.

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love revisionist history, and this book is a beaut -- it addresses all the unanswered questions about the Main Line Murders I couldn't get past when I read "Echoes In The Darkness," and comes up with a version of events that makes much, much more sense to me.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

This was a very well Whittington that takes you from beginning to the end of the Sue Reinert murder case.Heartbreaking story.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

True crime story that is very well written and details prosecutorial injustice. Old case and I am not sure why I didn't read this sooner.