Former Oakland Raiders player Anthony Smith was sentenced to life without the possiblity of parole in California for the murders of three men in 1999 and 2001.
The former defensive end, 48, was convicted in a Lancaster, California court last year for the 1999 kidnapping and killings of brothers Ricky and Kevin Nettles and the 2001 murder of Dennis Henderson. After sentencing, it was revealed that Smith also could be retried for the 2008 shooting death of Maurilio Ponce, a 31-year-old mechanic. That case ended in a mistrial in 2012 after the jury was deadlocked.
The bodies of the Nettles brothers were found with their heads wrapped in duct tape. Henderson, who was also kidnapped, was found stabbed and beaten in the back of a rental car.
Smith was the Raiders’ top pick in the 1990 NFL Draft and played with the team until 1997. After the ’97 season, Smith opted out of his contract and did not sign with another team.
