A Port Huron man accused of killing one of his children and severely injuring two others pleaded guilty as charged to 10 felonies Tuesday, May 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
Jeffery Smerer, 45, chose to plead guilty despite the lack of any plea deal offered by the St. Clair County Prosecutor’s Office. His plea means none of his charges will be reduced, including the open murder charge, guaranteeing a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Senior Assistant Public Defense Attorney David Kelley, who is representing Smerer, said Smerer had shared his desire to plead guilty the day before and that they had reviewed the legal ramifications of his decision. Circuit Court Judge Michael West warned Smerer that if he pleaded guilty without a deal he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison, to which Smerer said he understood.
Smerer was arrested on Sept. 11, 2025 after he shot three of his four children at their home at Glenview Gardens Apartments on Glenview Court, causing the death of his son Kayleb Smerer, who was 17 years old. He also shot his youngest son and daughter.
As he entered his plea Smerer said he had been planning the shooting for days before it happened.
“Was it your intention or your plan to shoot the children in the home?” Kelley asked during the admission portion of the plea.
“Yes,” Smerer responded.
“Was it also your intention to shoot yourself?” Kelley asked. Smerer hesitated before responding in the affirmative, briefly breaking into tears.
Smerer told the court he had prepared a .380 handgun and approached Kayleb from behind as he was sitting in the living room, shooting him in the back of the head. He then entered his younger son’s room and shot him, then did the same to his daughter.
What happened after Smerer shot his daughter was not stated in court, though police have previously said his wife and eldest son struggled with him.
Smerer was scheduled to be sentenced that same day for misdemeanor indecent exposure, though he did not say Tuesday whether that sentencing factored into his actions. He was later sentenced to one year in jail on the charge.
In all Smerer faces five life sentences for the charges against him: one count of open murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and two counts of first-degree child abuse. He also pleaded to five counts of felony firearm use, which carries a penalty of up to two years in prison that must be served consecutively with their related charges, though all five charges can be served concurrently together.
Smerer’s sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 29 before West.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron father pleads guilty to killing his son, injuring two others
Reporting by Johnathan Hogan, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
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