Murder on Elm Street: A True-Life Crime Story

by Jeremy L Luberts

Little Falls, Minnesota
Thanksgiving 2012

When two teenage cousins break into a residence on Elm Street, a true-life horror story unfolds. Little do they know that the retired homeowner has set a sinister trap to catch whoever was burgling his home.

More than twenty-four hours after the two teenagers lose their lives, detective Jeremy Luberts responds to a suspicious activity complaint at that same Elm Street residence, beginning a case that will forever alter his life and embroil his community and the nation in a debate over just how far people can go to protect themselves in their own homes.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

276 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2023

Reviews

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder on Elm Street" is a gripping true story written by Jeremy Luberts, the lead investigator of a chilling murder case. I have seen this on Dateline so I enjoyed reading this from the lead investigator's perspective.

The book delves into the harrowing events surrounding a man who repeatedly had his house broken into. Faced with this relentless intrusion, Byron Smith, takes matters into his own hands, setting up the individuals responsible and ultimately resorting to fatal measures.

Luberts' story skillfully unravels the complex web of events, providing readers with a captivating account of the investigation. Through his meticulous attention to detail, Luberts paints a vivid picture of Smith's desperate struggle to protect his home. The book explores the psychological toll that such a traumatic experience can have on an individual, delving into the depths of fear, paranoia, and the lengths one may go to in order to regain a sense of security.

This book serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the blurred lines between right and wrong, leaving readers pondering the consequences of one's actions when pushed to the edge.

Luberts' expertise as a lead investigator shines through, as he expertly navigates the intricacies of the case, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the investigation process.

Prepare to be captivated by the dark twists and turns of this haunting tale, as the author skillfully explores the depths of human nature and the consequences of one's actions in the face of unimaginable circumstances.

[Jimmy Chaillot · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Self defense or murder?” Is a question is true crime addicts always ask in cases like this. However from the evidence the answer is clear in this case.

This is a well written book for true crime newbies as this was written by the lead detective on this case. He goes step by step on getting a confession and procedures so that evidence doesn’t get excluded.

It also shows the cost of these cases to these detectives. This one this detective paid a huge price.

Recommend this one.

[Heather Raffety · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered when this happened as I lived and worked not far from Little Falls. Plus, I worked with a cousin of Halle’s and was familiar with what had occurred before reading this book. It was interesting to get the investigators point of view and the facts of some of the things I didn’t even know about.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was really interesting being able to read about a case that took place near where I grew up. I remember this case happening and everything playing out, but this book went into extreme detail and told me about things that I didn't even know about.

[Kristan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I normally love reading from the lead investigators perspective. I found the story was fluffed with a whole lot of the investigators life that just wasn't needed in the story. People are reading true crime for the crime, if I wanted to know the back story of the investigator I would have picked up a woman's murder club novel.

[Janice Woodard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting

I think this person had some severe mental issues that didn't seem to be addressed.
What he did was wrong, of course. The verdict was correct.
As an aside...I'm not interested in the religious beliefs of the author and don't understand the need to insert them into the story. Maybe I'm alone in that opinion, but...
Peace!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

very strange reading true crime from my own town. I liked getting a different perspective on the case

[Behind The Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder on Elm Street" by Jeremy Luberts is a compelling true crime book that captivated me from start to finish. As an avid reader of the genre, I was impressed by Luberts' writing style and his ability to vividly describe his experiences as a lead detective on the scene.

I stumbled upon this book while scrolling through my Facebook news feed, and being a blogger and page owner that features authors, I decided to reach out to Luberts. True crime reads have always been my passion, and I was immediately drawn to this book. What caught me was "Elm St" and to be honest I thought when I first saw the title name it was a fiction book inspired by a well known horror flick but as I started reading I realized it was true crime and I had to have it. Trust me though it ended up being a nightmare of reality on Elm St.

From the very first page, I found myself immersed in the story, feeling as though I was standing right beside Luberts as he investigated the crime. His attention to detail and his ability to convey the emotions and challenges faced by law enforcement officers left a lasting impact on me. It served as a stark reminder of the sacrifices and mental anguish that officers endure on a daily basis, which our society often fails to fully comprehend.

Without giving away any spoilers, I must commend Luberts on the way he presents the crime in this book. The story revolves around a break in and two teens being shot unmercifully.
Luberts masterfully brings it to the forefront, making it both thought-provoking and eye-opening. It made me reevaluate my perspective on crimes and the complexities that lie beneath the surface.

In conclusion, "Murder on Elm Street" is a must-read for any true crime enthusiast. Jeremy Luberts' writing talent shines through in this book, and I eagerly anticipate his future works. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a gripping and well-written true crime narrative that offers a fresh perspective on criminal investigations.
For true crime enthusiasts I cannot recommend this book enough! Get it and you can thank me later!!!!!

[Shannon Bromo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard Jeremy Luberts wrote a book about his experience investigating this case, I knew I had to read it right away. I grew up near Little Falls, and still live fairly close, and this brought me back to when it happened and when following the case until conviction. While I knew almost the entire case, the part I was not prepared for was learning about Jeremy's life, personally and as an investigator. Hearing the story from his perspective was even more eye opening to the horrors of the case. My heart hurts for what Jeremy and his family went through during this time. I also appreciated Jeremy explaining the processes and terms associated with case (i.e. castle doctrine, etc.). I've heard the audio but reading it kinda made it sink in even more to exactly what Byron was saying and the state of mind he was in. I still drive past Byron Smith's house on Highway 10 while going up to the lake several times a month. The property is overgrown and the house looks just as haunting as ever, especially knowing what happened there. I am a self-proclaimed "true crime junkie" and this case is one that will always haunt me. Highly recommend reading this whether you know the details of the case or not.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on Elm Street is a true crime story written by Jeremy L. Luberts, the lead detective on the case.

It takes place on Thanksgiving Day in 2012 in Little Falls Minnesota.

Byron Smith is convinced that his property is being burglarized and he is determined to set a trap to catch the perpetrators. Mr. Smith’s plan and his actions to solve the problem are nothing short of obsessive.

As two teenagers enter the property, Mr. Smith is sitting calmly awaiting them. What happens next is horrific.

I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Luberts. It takes a very strong and determined person to remain calm while interrogating someone accused of such a crime.

I highly recommend this book. It will stay with you long after you have finished reading it. No doubt, Mr. Luberts will never forget what happened on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

I would like to thank Jeremy L. Luberts for providing me with a copy of this book.

[Fauntel Deshayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great true-crime story. I graduated from Little Falls high school and when these events unfolded it was absolutely mind-boggling. So many people were divided. I enjoyed the fact that this book was fast-paced and very factual. Essentially, home owner Byron Smith is fed up with break-ins happening at his residence so he decides to take matters into his own hands. What ends up happening next is two dead teenagers. It sounds simple enough, but as the details unfold you realize it's much more menacing than that. I thought the court details toward the end of the book slowed down the pace a bit, but I found myself eager to read this every time I had a chance. It's written by the lead investigator of the case so you literally get every single tiny detail from his perspective. Fascinating.

[Jill- Host of the Murder Shelf Book Club podcast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written, the author was the lead investigator in the controversial Byron Smith case from 2012. Mr. Luberts take great pains to provide transcripts of the interviews he conducted with the Defendant, Byron Smith, verbatim, giving the reader a chance to digest their content. He also explains the investigation into the burglary that triggered the murders of two troubled teenagers, Nick Brady and Haile Kifer. Step by step, you are brought through the actions of an investigator, and then through the judicial system, it acting as a primer for the layperson. I highly recommend reading Mr. Luberts's book. If you do not have time, considering listening to Episodes 84, 85 and 86 of my podcast, the Murder Shelf Book Club, where I deep dive, adding my research to the story, Murder on Elm Street.

[Dayna B · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book, and this detective-turned-author, are not for me. It's needlessly repetitive, and the majority of the "writing" is primarily court and interview transcripts. His personal writing pieces are few and far between.

**Spoiler**
His wife left him - he says because of the demands of being an investigator's wife - but when I read that he blamed his wife's mother for her being a terrible cook, well, the writing was on the wall. When he left the same woman to suffer through a bleeding stomach ulcer at the hospital - and dropped their daughter with grandparents so he could go do detective work, eventually being "blessed" with a glowing commendation from his Sargeant, again, the writing was on the wall.

He got his blip of fame from this case, and I regret that I spent my reading time and book credits contributing to it.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky winners of Murder on Elm Street by Jeremy Luberts. Thank you again for picking me!

My review is 5 stars easily. Maybe I’m a bit biased as I am from Minnesota (ha!) and this case had the whole state up in arms and divided.

I very much enjoyed the chronological way the story was told and also not only was it a police procedural, but there was a lot of feeling and emotion involved as well.

The story of Byron Smith is a strange one. When the shootings happened, I at first had a very different perspective not knowing the minute details that later came out. Reading this book that had so much detail and insight was extremely interesting and really kept me wanting to learn more.

Great, factual yet captivating read.

[Alecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this on my trial with Audible. I didn't realize until a little way into it, that it was read by AI (Virtual Voice narration). Never again, if I can help it.

But that's not the only reason for the 2 stars (although a huge contributor!). The writing reminds me of the old TV show, Dragnet...just the facts, ma'am. It is a plodding, overly detailed story and this author brings a lot of his (uninteresting to me) personal life into this telling of a contentious crime. And he makes no bones about what a great job he and everyone else (apparently) on the defense team thinks he did. He also brings in his religious beliefs, which I found totally unecessary.

[Richard Yount · Rating 5 out of 5]

pulled me in

A very different type of crime saga, told in a unique and extremely insightful manner. The writer is a central part of the story as the initial investigating officer. I typically dislike books with a lot of verbatim script from investigators reports and court transcripts. This has quite a lot and in some cases, it is repeated in subsequent chapter…… BUT in this book it was ok. All in all this book kept me reading aggressively througout. All in all I found it very interesting and extremely well told in an insightful manner.

[Giesela Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly 2 stars feels generous. This case might have been interesting, but the book certainly wasn’t. There was a lot of unnecessary information about the police officers life thrown in, like how interesting it is that he’s a twin or that his wife was in the hospital while he was doing paperwork. Being that a cop wrote it, I expected bias. There’s really no background on the victims or anything of note from the defense. There was more background information provided about the officer’s personal life than the killers.

[Wilhelmina Mildew · Rating 5 out of 5]

short but impactful

This was a quick read but it’s one I won’t forget soon. The story of a bitter, angry man who held grudges against his neighbors, seems to especially have hated women, and felt he had the right to set a trap, lay in wait, and murder a pair of stupid but completely unarmed teenagers who broke into his home. Written by the investigator who arrested him and collected the primary evidence, who also talks about the major impact this case had on his own life.

[Marnie Hodge · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful, avoid. I was hoping for a true crime read with a investigator perspective.
What I got was a sanctimonious lecture with a side order of god quotes and a lot of self-praise.
And the lack of insight/empathy was terrifying; an expectation of sympathy for himself that people he knew drove past his house on a public street but none for an elderly man habitually victimised within his own home.
Poorly written, padded with repetition and self-aggrandisement.

[Katy Askeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minnesota True Crime

I didn't find this case all that interesting, perhaps because I have strong feelings on the subject matter. It was clear to me from the beginning whether the defendant was guilty or not. I do have much respect for the LEO/author and how the case upended his life.

[Samantha Amber Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

When this incident first happened, I remember hearing about it on the news. Now, I live in Little Falls, not far from where it happened. I was invested from start to finish even though a lot of it I already knew. The more I read the more I got angry at reporters and how much they didn’t say. Jeremy’s account gave me a different perspective. Glad I read it!

[Tia Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely wasn’t my favorite read this year. Don’t get me wrong, I really do love the true crime, full of murder like stories but this one just fell flat to me. It was a slow burn the entire time I was reading, and I wanted to quit reading multiple times throughout but i wanted to at least finish it.

[Hayley Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me super sad cause I knew both of these kids :/ but it was interesting to read about everything and the true story. Also grew up knowing Jeremy as well! My heart goes out to Jeremy and the families of their loved ones …

[Renata Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

How said that 2 kids lost their lives for stupid choices.
One man lost his freedom/way of life making a choice to kill 2 kids.
The actions of all three changed more lives than they will ever know.

[Becca Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fully expected to be on the side of the home owners protecting their turf. What I found was an evil many who entrapped two teenagers in their murders. The kids weren't innocent,they were thieves but they didn't deserve to die for that mistake.

[Laurann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember when this case unfolded and I was interested to read the perspective of the lead investigator on the case. His information is straight forward and well presented. But there are times he gets a little ramble-y and the narrative loses focus. Overall a good read.

[jan]

Good work!

I liked the way Mr. Luberts described his actions throughout the case. It was like reading a police report and helped me to better understand the circumstances. Justice was served but people forget about how many people/families were impacted by this case.

[Amanda Chaffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing

I really enjoyed the telling of this case by Mr. Luberts. It was succinct and factual. It is sad though what Mr. Luberts lost just for doing his job. Great job in writing this book, and what a great job you did on the case. Keep your faith.

[Jo Cochrane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dry read

The story itself was interesting, but it was quite quite a dry read. It was hard going sometimes but I was invested enough to keep going because I wanted to know the outcome (without cheating and just going to Wiki!)

[Fred Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was expecting something more in regards to the crime itself. He showed up, took the confession & filed the case. It was pretty straight forward and the kinda case you want to get assigned. Too much with all the personal stuff, some contradictory things, and his friend the lawyer wrote 2 chapters.