The First FBI Agent Convicted Of Murder

Susan Daniels Smith was born in Matewan, West Virginia, in 1961, but soon after her birth, her family moved to Freeburn, Kentucky. Susan grew up and attended school there until the 7th grade, when she was forced to drop out due to her family's financial insecurity, according to The Cinemaholic. Within five years of dropping out of school, at the age of 15, she met 22-year old Kenneth Smith, and the two of them began dating. Kenneth was a drug dealer when the two of them met, and soon they were using drugs together. Susan and Kenneth married in the late 1970s and would have two children together before divorcing. But after getting a divorce, Susan and Kenneth continued living together.

Mark Putnam initially approached Kenneth about being an informant. But according to "Above Suspicion," Kenneth came into the meeting with a list of demands for Putnam, asking for a weekly salary in addition to being given protective custody and having his probation removed. After Kenneth's parole officer informed Putnam he was "totally unreliable," Putnam approached Susan to be an informant. The move was based on the suggestion of Bert Hatfield — the part-time cop who initially suggested Kenneth as an informant.

At the time, Susan was addicted to recreational pills, and with two children under 7 years old to take care of, she definitely needed the extra cash that Putnam was offering, Carol Anne Davis writes in "Masking Evil."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).