Brother charged with sister’s murder: Affidavit exposes new details as siblings break their silence
AUSTIN, Texas – The family of a woman who was allegedly killed by her own brother is speaking out, expressing their shock and grief over the tragic incident. Precious Rucker, 38, affectionately known as Pooka, was the eldest sister to four brothers. The youngest brother, 21-year-old Wanya Kasean Smith, now faces charges for her murder.
“How could you do something to somebody that put their life on the line and changed up their whole lifestyle, you know, and give you so much love?” lamented Roderick Smith-Davis, the second-oldest brother, struggling to comprehend the senseless act.
The oldest brother, Runel Smith, added wistfully, “I just want to hug this boy. I just want to grab them real tight, give them a super bear hug. I love you, bro, like this for Pooka.”
On September 7, Travis County deputies responded to a distress call at an apartment complex on West Wells Branch Parkway, prompted by Precious’s failure to log in for work. The scene they encountered was gruesome, with Precious found with cuts on her head and face, an electrical cord tightly wound around her neck. Notably, her teeth were damaged, and blood-stained shards of glass littered the floor. In their investigation, authorities discovered cleaning products, latex gloves, a metal handsaw, trash bags, and tarp nearby.
It is essential to note that Precious, Kasean, and their third brother, Jonel Smith, shared the same apartment. Jonel, owing to his work schedule, revealed that he did not always have the opportunity to see his sister and was asleep when the horrifying crime occurred. Saddened and disturbed, he denounced his brother’s actions, stating, “This is just sick, disturbing thing that he did. This is messing with my mind. He killed my sister on Wednesday, let me think that everything was okay.”
Originating from Virginia, the family had relocated to Texas in search of a fresh start after the loss of their parents. It had been their parents’ wish for Precious to have custody of Kasean, who had been struggling with mental health challenges. Detectives, per the affidavit, believe Kasean utilized Precious’s credit card to make purchases following her tragic demise, including a PlayStation 5, a headset, a metal handsaw, tarps, and tape.
Runel divulged that his sister frequently spent money on Kasean, recounting, “He said he didn’t have his rent money. He didn’t want to pay, so he didn’t want to disappoint her and plus, he wanted to play 2K.”
Devastated by the loss, Jonel expressed remorse, lamenting, “All I had to do was be up on Wednesday, yo, these roles would have been reversed, and my sister will still be alive right now.”
The brothers are striving to ensure that Precious is remembered for her caring nature, as she acted as their guiding force throughout life. Possessing an unwavering positive mindset, Precious had two master’s degrees from Virginia State University and was employed at the campus jazz radio station. She worked at several tech companies after relocating to Austin and had an immense love for travel.
“She was a beautiful spirit, beautiful spirit. She was always smiling, always happy,” fondly recalled Roderick.
Kasean’s defense attorney, Tara Witt, released a statement asserting his client’s innocence, stating, “My client has pled not guilty to this charge and is presumed innocent. We look forward to confronting the evidence in court.”
In light of this devastating incident, the brothers have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses and facilitate the transportation of Precious’s body back to Virginia, where she will be laid to rest.
