It was supposed to be a standard, maybe even slightly exciting, night before Thanksgiving. You know the vibe—everyone’s back in town, the local bars are packed, and there's that crisp November air that makes you want to stay inside. Leslie Reeves, a 45-year-old Pilates instructor and mother of two from Troy, Illinois, had finally decided to meet up with Chris Smith. They’d been chatting online for a few weeks.
Chris was a 48-year-old guy living in the tiny village of Farmersville. By all accounts, he was a well-liked local who worked for a pool contractor and sang in a rock band. This wasn’t some high-stakes drama; it was just two people grabbing a drink at a local spot and heading back to Chris’s place to warm up some frozen pizza.
Nobody could have predicted that by the next morning, Leslie Reeves would be dead and Chris Smith would be fighting for his life with a bullet in his brain. Honestly, the details that came out later are enough to make anyone rethink the safety of a first date, though in this case, the danger didn't come from the person across the table. It came from the shadows outside.
The Ambush at Farmersville
The scene found on Thanksgiving Day 2021 was nothing short of a nightmare. When Chris’s friend and EMT Dennis Hobson walked into the house for a welfare check, he found a blood-soaked kitchen. Chris was on the floor, barely alive. Leslie was in the living room, having been shot once in the head.
Investigators like Josh Easton of the Illinois State Police later pieced together a terrifying timeline. Sometime around 1 a.m., while the two were likely just hanging out in the kitchen, an intruder broke through a side door. There was a struggle. Chris was shot first. Leslie, ever the fighter—she actually taught self-defense classes for women—tried to run for the living room to hide or escape. She didn't make it.
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One of the most haunting details? The oven was still on. There was a burnt pizza inside. It’s those mundane, everyday details that really drive home how quickly a life can be upended.
Survival Against the Odds: Chris Smith’s Journey
Chris Smith shouldn't be here. That’s not an exaggeration; it’s a medical fact. He spent 12 hours on that cold kitchen floor before help arrived. The only reason he didn't succumb to hypothermia or blood loss? His dog, a beagle-terrier mix named Tiki.
Tiki huddled against Chris for those 12 hours, providing enough body heat to keep him hanging on. When he finally made it to the hospital, the prognosis was grim. We're talking brain surgery, a medically induced coma that lasted three months, and multiple strokes. Doctors told his family he’d likely never walk or talk again.
The Long Road Back
- Memory Loss: When Chris woke up in January 2022, he had zero memory of the night. He didn't even remember who Leslie Reeves was.
- Physical Toll: The shooting left his left side paralyzed. To this day, he uses a wheelchair and a cane for mobility.
- The Comeback: Despite the odds, Chris started singing again. He even wrote a book about the experience called My Fatal First Date.
Most people would have given up. Honestly, who could blame them? But Chris transformed his trauma into a platform. He now works as a motivational speaker, using his website to help other TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and domestic violence survivors.
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The Shadow in the Woods: Who Was Robert Tarr?
It didn't take long for the police to look at Robert "Bobby" Tarr. He was Leslie’s ex-boyfriend, and according to her friends, he hadn't taken the breakup well. Leslie had actually expressed fear of him before the date.
The investigation was a slog. There was no DNA at the scene. No murder weapon was ever found. But Tarr’s own family ended up providing the most damning evidence. His 17-year-old daughter told detectives that her father had left the house twice that night. When he came back at nearly 3 a.m., he was frantically doing laundry and pacing the floor.
Even while in jail awaiting trial, Tarr didn't stop. He was later charged with solicitation of murder for hire after trying to arrange a "hit" on Chris Smith and a lead investigator from behind bars. He wanted to finish what he started.
Justice Served in 2024
In April 2024, a Montgomery County jury finally delivered a verdict. On his 51st birthday, Robert Tarr was found guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder. The sentencing was equally heavy: 85 years in prison. He’ll likely spend the rest of his life there, which is exactly where most people think he belongs.
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During the trial, the prosecution argued that Tarr had secretly tracked Leslie to Farmersville. It was a crime of pure, obsessive jealousy. While Tarr continues to maintain his innocence from his cell, the evidence of his movements and his behavior that night told a much different story to the jury.
Lessons from a Tragedy
What can we actually take away from the story of Leslie Reeves and Chris Smith? It’s easy to get lost in the "true crime" of it all, but there are real-world safety steps that come out of cases like this.
- Trust Your Gut and Your Friends: Leslie had told her friend Nanette Stuiber that she was worried about Tarr. If you feel like an ex is stalking you, document everything.
- Digital Footprints: If you’re meeting someone new, always share your live location with a trusted friend.
- Welfare Checks Save Lives: It was Nanette’s persistence in calling for a welfare check that led to Chris being found. If someone goes dark, don't wait 48 hours to call for help.
Moving Forward
Today, Chris Smith is living a life he was never supposed to have. He’s engaged to his fiancée, Michelle Albrecht, and continues to push himself in physical therapy. He hasn't let the man who tried to take his life win. Leslie’s legacy lives on through her children and the many women she empowered through her self-defense and Pilates classes.
If you’re interested in supporting survivors or learning more about Chris's recovery, you can check out his advocacy work. It’s a reminder that while one night can change everything, it doesn't have to be the end of the story.
To stay informed on similar cases or to find resources for domestic violence advocacy, you can look into organizations like the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) or local TBI support groups. These organizations provide the tools and safety planning that might just prevent the next "fatal first date."