A Tragic Loss

Cameron “Cam” Smith didn’t deserve to die. The 46-year-old dispensary employee was kidnapped at gunpoint on September 10 from the parking lot of the LUCID recreational cannabis store in Cheney. On September 15, he was found dead. The senseless motive for the killing defies all reason. Smith’s family and friends remember him as a loving son, father, grandfather and friend.

According to local law enforcement, 36-year-old Donovan Culps and his niece, 18-year-old Violetta Culps may have targeted Smith because they didn’t have valid identification to purchase cannabis at the shop where Smith worked. Smith rejected Culp’s fake ID, as directed by law. In response, the two kidnapped Smith while he was eating lunch in his car. They also stole his car.

“He was a father, son, he was a brother, he was a mentor and he was also a grandfather. We [had the chance] to pony up and have one last big party in his honor to celebrate his life and hopefully the proceeds help his family. That was the goal—to get together and make something positive out of such a negative situation.”

Culps was captured by police in Goldendale on September 14, shortly before the body was found. Smith’s car and wallet were tossed in different locations. According to Cheney police Captain Richard Beghtol, Culps will be charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. On September 15, 18-year-old Alisha Jackson was arrested in connection to the crime. Jackson was allegedly present in the vehicle when the crimes occurred.

Dennis Turner and Michael Schofield are co-owners of LUCID. The two are deeply shocked and saddened by last month’s events. “That’s my brother. We call each other brothers,” Turner told CULTURE. “I’ve known him since I was 13. He was actually my barber since I was 13. He was a barber for 20 years. We’ve been friends for 24 years. We grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and that’s where Cam was from. I went to high school and junior high there. Our families are very close. He just moved to Washington last July to support my business now. I’m the owner of LUCID.” Smith is remembered back home in Ohio as co-owner of Toledo-based Blendz Barbershop.

Smith left the hair industry to enter into Washington’s recreational cannabis industry. Despite the fact that the crimes happened at a dispensary location, Turner reiterated Smith’s dedication to the cannabis plant. “He was passionate about the cannabis industry,” said Turner.

A candlelight vigil took place on September 11, when Smith first went missing. Later, after it was determined that he died, an event took place on September 22 in Downtown Spokane to remember Smith. “The actual funeral [took place] in Ohio. We wanted to do what he would’ve wanted us to do—and that’s to all come together as a family and celebrate all of the positive memories about Cam whether it was his silly phrases or things that he said. We wanted to do one last benefit in collaboration with The Unforgiven Lounge to restock us. They offered to donate 50 percent of all the proceeds from the liquor, food, sales—all of it.”

Turner now hopes that Smith will be remembered for the positive impacts he had in the world.“He was a father, son, he was a brother, he was a mentor, and he was also a grandfather,” explained Turner. “We [had the chance] to pony up and have one last big party in his honor to celebrate his life and hopefully the proceeds help his family. That was the goal—to get together and make something positive out of such a negative situation.”