Anika Smith was born on July 18, 1993, in Pretoria, South Africa. Daughter of Charlotte and Johan, her childhood was marked by happy moments but also challenges. At the age of 13, her parents divorced, and she had to cope with the separation. Despite this, she maintained a good relationship with both parents.
Anika had a special love for animals and volunteered at a local zoo. After the divorce, her mother decided to move to Cape Town, about 15 hours away by car or a 4-hour flight.
She chose to stay with her father, but over time, she realized she missed her mother and decided to live with her and her boyfriend. The adjustment was not easy, as she did not adapt to the house rules and eventually returned to live with her father.
Search for Identity
Although described as a happy teenager, Anika began to change in her later teenage years. She adopted a more alternative style, wearing heavy makeup, dark lipstick, and black clothes. She also dyed her blonde hair black.
These changes were part of her search for identity, but some felt that the lack of rules at her father’s house contributed to more rebellious behavior. She started smoking, drinking, and attending parties.
On March 10, 2010, Anika woke up feeling unwell, with a fever and earache. Her father took her to the doctor, who diagnosed an ear infection. The recommendation was rest and medication, but the condition was not severe.
The father followed the instructions, left Anika at home, and went to work, making it clear he would be back soon. He arranged for the pharmacy to deliver the medication to the house, and around noon, the deliveryman arrived. Upon finding the gate locked and the dogs in the yard, he honked several times, but no one answered.
Tragic Scene
The pharmacy reported the situation to her father, who tried calling Anika. With no response, he assumed she was asleep. When he returned from work later, he noticed strange details: the gate was unlocked, the dogs were confined to the side of the house, and the dining room was in disarray.
Going up to Anika’s room, he found a horrifying scene: she was lying on the bed, showing clear signs of violence, mutilation, and abuse.
The police launched an investigation. There were no signs of forced entry, suggesting that Anika knew her attacker. Two untouched cups of coffee on the table indicated she might have received someone before the attack.
The dogs, usually friendly, were confined, which indicated the visitor was a stranger to the household. Although the attacker’s DNA was collected, it did not match any profiles in the national database. The investigation initially focused on people close to Anika, starting with her ex-boyfriend, Nico Venter.
Despite being described as jealous and controlling, Nico had a solid alibi, supported by security camera footage. Even so, he faced accusations and threats, although the DNA found did not belong to him.
Another suspect was Damian Treby, a schoolmate of Anika. Known as “Vampire Anck,” he had scratches on his neck but claimed they were from a fight with his sister. There was also no evidence linking him to the crime.
Finally, André van Vick, nicknamed “Smiley,” confessed to the crime, but his statement was dismissed when the DNA did not match, and he retracted his confession. He claimed he was forced to confess due to threats he received at a bar.
Unanswered Questions
Unfortunately, the case of Anika Smith remains unsolved. Her hands, possibly cut off to hide evidence, were never found.
The brutality of the crime shocked the community, and her family still waits for justice. This is yet another case that remains a mystery.
