Cobb County, Georgia, usually makes headlines for its sprawling suburbs or the Braves stadium. But for true crime junkies, the name triggers a very specific, chilling memory. It’s the story of a young mother, a terrifying stalker, and a five-year-old boy who fought like a lion to stay alive. If you’ve seen the killing in Cobb County Dateline episode, you know it’s one of those cases that sticks to your ribs. It’s not just a "whodunit." It’s a "why did it take seventeen years to fix this?"
On October 23, 1995, Karmen Smith, a 31-year-old Delta flight attendant, was brutally murdered in her Marietta apartment. Her son, Nickolas, was only five. He didn’t just witness the horror—he was part of it. The killer didn't want any witnesses. He stabbed that little boy 18 times.
Miraculously, Nickolas survived.
The Stalker in the Shadows
The investigation didn't have to look far for a suspect. Lottie Spencer, Karmen’s roommate and friend, had been living in a state of absolute terror. She told police immediately that she knew who did it. She was being stalked by a young man named Waseem Daker.
Daker was younger than Lottie, and he was obsessed. Like, "calling 200 times a day" obsessed. Lottie had moved in with Karmen specifically to hide from him. It’s a tragic irony that her attempt to find safety likely put a target on Karmen’s back.
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Basically, the theory was that Daker showed up to kill Lottie, found Karmen instead, and decided to finish the job. Or maybe it was a message. Either way, the scene was a bloodbath.
Despite Lottie’s certainty, the case stalled. Why? Because in 1995, DNA technology wasn't what it is today. Police found hairs at the scene, but they couldn't get a definitive match back then. Daker was eventually sent to prison for stalking Lottie, but the murder charge just wouldn't stick. He served ten years for the stalking and walked out a free man in 2006.
Why the Killing in Cobb County Dateline Episode Still Haunts Georgia
When Dateline correspondent Andrea Canning revisited this case, the focus was on the agonizing wait for justice. Imagine being Nickolas Smith. You grow up with the scars of 18 stab wounds on your body, knowing the man who killed your mother is walking the streets.
The breakthrough finally came in 2009. Forensic scientists re-examined the hairs found on the bedding where Karmen's body was hidden. This time, they found a root. That root contained the nuclear DNA they needed.
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The match? Waseem Daker.
The Trial of a Psychopath
The trial in 2012 was a circus. Daker chose to represent himself. Honestly, it was a bold—and incredibly arrogant—move that forced his victims to face him directly in court. He cross-examined Nickolas Smith, the boy he had tried to kill nearly two decades earlier.
- The Hair Evidence: Daker argued the hairs were planted or transferred from Lottie’s previous apartment.
- The Stalking History: Prosecutors used his "obsessive" nature to show a pattern of escalating violence.
- The Survivor: Nickolas’s testimony was the emotional anchor of the case.
Daker was eventually found guilty of murder and the attempted murder of Nickolas. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years. But even then, he didn't go quietly. He has filed appeal after appeal, clogging up the Georgia court system for years. He’s often cited as one of the most litigious prisoners in the state's history.
Other Cases That Shake Cobb County
While the Karmen Smith case is the most famous killing in Cobb County Dateline has covered, the region has seen other high-profile tragedies that fit the show's mold.
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Just recently, in October 2024, Dateline aired "Deadly Omission," covering the case of John Peek. This guy was a real piece of work. He managed to avoid suspicion for the 1996 murders of his wife, Carol Marlin, and her friend Margaret Ginn for nearly a decade.
It wasn't until his next wife, Kasi Peek, was found dead in 2005 that the pieces finally fell into place. Detective Eddie Herman, who had been on the case since the 90s, never let it go. It’s a recurring theme in Cobb County: long-buried secrets that eventually claw their way to the surface.
Then there’s the Matthew Lanz case from 2021. Lanz was recently sentenced for the random, unprovoked killing of a young couple, Justin and Amber Hicks, while their toddler was in the house. It's a different kind of horror—no stalking, no "master manipulator" husband—just a sudden, violent intrusion into a quiet neighborhood.
Actionable Insights for True Crime Followers
If you’re following these cases or live in the North Atlanta area, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding how these "Dateline" mysteries usually unfold:
- DNA is a Patient Witness: The Karmen Smith case proves that evidence from the 90s is never truly "dead." If you're following a cold case, look for updates involving "touch DNA" or "genetic genealogy."
- The Paper Trail Matters: In the John Peek and Waseem Daker cases, it wasn't just the crime scene that got them. It was the history of stalking, the insurance policies, and the "weird" behavior observed by neighbors.
- Support Cold Case Units: Many of these resolutions happen because of specialized cold case squads in departments like the Cobb County Police. They rely on tips that might seem insignificant 20 years later.
Justice in Cobb County often moves slowly, but as Waseem Daker found out, it usually catches up. Whether it's a hair under a microscope or a detective who refuses to retire, the truth has a way of coming home.
The Karmen Smith story isn't just a TV episode. It's a testament to the resilience of a five-year-old boy who refused to die and a legal system that, eventually, got it right.