Family of murdered man raises funds

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - One local family is hoping the community will help them remember a family member they lost.

Steven Lee Smith was murdered in 2008, after his roommate Wesley Kelly hit him in the face with a padlock, causing him to fall into the Wabash River. Kelly was sentenced to 60 years in prison last week.

Saturday, Smith's family held a fundraising bake sale in his name at Keepers Primitive's store in Lafayette. Proceeds will go toward a memorial headstone for Smith.

"Steve deserves a mark left on this earth to show that he was here," family spokesperson Cyndi Miller said. "Steve losing his life has created a hero out of him, because it managed to get a horrific criminal off the streets."

If you would like to donate to the cause, you can mail donations to: INHope Indiana Missing\Steven Lee Smith; Attn: Patti Carter Bishop; 4216 W. 25th St.; Anderson, IN 46011.

The family also plans to hold another fundraiser on October 2. That event will be a car wash at Advanced Auto Parts on Teal Road in Lafayette.