Holts Summit woman found guilty of murder set to be sentenced

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman convicted of murder is set to be sentenced in the Callaway County Circuit Court Thursday.

In April, Heather Smith was found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and a count of armed criminal action in the death of 37-year-old Kara Dills.

Judge Jacobs is set to deliver Smith's sentence at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

In April 2025, police were called to the Hunter Lane Apartments, where Smith allegedly shot Dills after their children got into an altercation while riding bikes in the apartment complex, according to court documents.

Smith's attorney, Edward Luby, argued his client shot Dills in self-defense.

Allegedly, Smith confronted Dills twice before the shooting, with Dills' sister allegedly confronting Smith in between. Several witnesses alleged that Smith flashed a gun tucked into her waistband at Dills' mother during one of the confrontations.

On the day of the shooting, Dills allegedly pistol-whipped Smith and walked away. When the gun struck Smith, it went off and grazed a bystander's head. Smith then allegedly fired a shot into Dills' stomach, ultimately killing her.