The name Waseem Daker isn't just a footnote in Georgia's criminal history; for the federal court system, it’s a living, breathing case study in legal persistence. Or, as some judges might say, a masterclass in "clogging the pipes." If you’ve been following the saga of the man convicted in the 1995 stabbing death of Karmen Smith, you probably have one question: Waseem Daker where is he now?
The short answer? He’s still behind bars, currently serving a life sentence plus 47.5 years. But "behind bars" is a bit of an understatement for a guy who spends more time writing legal briefs than most practicing attorneys. Honestly, the sheer volume of his litigation has basically turned his cell into a satellite law office.
The Current Location of Waseem Daker
As of early 2026, Waseem Daker remains in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). For years, he was held at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson—a high-security facility known for housing the state's most high-profile inmates and the execution chamber.
While he has been moved around the system due to various administrative reasons and the sheer number of lawsuits he files against specific wardens, he’s still very much a permanent resident of the GDC. He’s not getting out anytime soon. The man was sentenced to life for the murder of Karmen Smith and the stabbing of her son, Nick, and the Georgia Supreme Court hasn’t shown any interest in overturning that conviction.
He's a "serial litigant." That's the term the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals loves to use. It sounds kinda fancy, but in plain English, it means he sues everyone. Constantly.
Why He’s Still Making Headlines in 2026
You might think someone serving life would eventually run out of things to say. Not Daker. Just this month, in January 2026, the 11th Circuit issued yet another opinion regarding his constant stream of petitions.
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Basically, Daker has been trying to challenge every aspect of his confinement. He’s sued over his right to eat dates for religious reasons. He’s sued over the prison's grooming policies regarding beards. He’s even sued because he claims he doesn’t have enough access to a photocopier to print out his other lawsuits.
"Waseem Daker has clogged the federal courts with frivolous litigation by submitting over a thousand pro se filings..." — 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
It’s almost impressive if it wasn't so exhausting for the taxpayers. He’s filed over 1,000 documents in at least nine different federal courts. Because of this, the courts eventually got fed up and hit him with a "permanent filing injunction."
Now, if he wants to file a new lawsuit, he usually has to:
- Pay a $1,500 contempt bond.
- Provide a complete list of his massive litigation history.
- Attach a copy of the very injunction that restricts him.
He recently tried to argue that prison officials were destroying his legal papers to prevent him from meeting these rules. The court didn't buy it. In an opinion dated January 9, 2026, the court basically told him he knew the rules and failed to follow them.
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The Case That Put Him There
To understand why people are still searching for "Waseem Daker where is he now," you have to go back to 1995. This wasn't just a random crime; it was a stalking case that turned deadly. Daker was obsessed with a woman named Loretta Spencer Blatz. When she rejected him, he focused his rage on her friend, Karmen Smith.
Karmen was found stabbed to death in her home. Her 5-year-old son, Nick, was also stabbed but miraculously survived. For years, the case went cold. Daker actually served 10 years for stalking Blatz before he was finally charged with the murder in 2010.
The 2012 trial was a circus. Daker insisted on representing himself. Imagine a man accused of a brutal murder cross-examining the child he allegedly stabbed. It was visceral. It was uncomfortable. And it ended with a guilty verdict on all counts, including malice murder and aggravated battery.
The 2026 Legal Landscape
So, is there any hope for his release? Kinda doubtful.
Daker is currently fighting on two fronts. First, he's trying to get his original conviction tossed through habeas corpus petitions. These are basically "Hail Mary" passes where an inmate argues their imprisonment is unconstitutional. Just this week—January 16, 2026—the court shot down his latest attempt to recuse a judge in one of these cases.
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Second, he’s fighting the prison system itself. He’s very active in arguing for his First Amendment rights, particularly regarding his faith. He’s Arab-American and has filed numerous suits regarding religious diet and grooming. While some of these suits touch on legitimate civil rights issues, the sheer volume of his "frivolous" filings often overshadows the substance.
What People Get Wrong About the Case
A lot of people think Daker is just another guy who "got caught." In reality, he's incredibly intelligent. He’s not some uneducated inmate stumbling through a law library. He knows the California and Georgia codes better than some lawyers.
- Misconception 1: He's up for parole soon. False. With a life sentence plus nearly 50 years consecutive, he is effectively serving a natural life sentence.
- Misconception 2: His victims have moved on. Sorta. Nick Smith, the boy who survived, has spoken out as an adult, saying the conviction finally allowed him to stop being "the scared little boy." But as long as Daker keeps filing appeals, the families are forced to keep one eye on the courthouse.
- Misconception 3: He’s "won" his cases before. True, but with a catch. He has actually won a few procedural victories over the years, which is why he’s so hard to stop. He knows how to find a tiny procedural error and exploit it.
The Reality of Life in GDC
Living in the Georgia state prison system in 2026 isn't exactly a vacation. The GDC has been under intense federal scrutiny for staffing shortages and violence. Daker has used these conditions as fodder for his lawsuits, claiming his 8th Amendment rights (protection against cruel and unusual punishment) are being violated.
He’s currently classified as a high-profile inmate. This means his movements are restricted, and his legal mail is scrutinized—though clearly not restricted enough to stop him from filing dozens of motions a year.
Actionable Insights and What to Watch
If you're tracking this case, don't expect a sudden release. Instead, watch the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals docket. Daker is currently appealing the dismissal of several civil rights complaints.
- Keep an eye on PACER: If you want the raw data, the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is where his life story is currently being written. Look for cases in the Middle District of Georgia or the Southern District of Georgia.
- Watch the "Three Strikes" rule: Daker is the poster child for the Prison Litigation Reform Act's "three-strikes" provision, which is meant to stop inmates from filing too many meritless lawsuits. How the courts balance this against his actual right to access the legal system is a major point of interest for legal scholars.
- Victim Support: For those interested in the impact of these long-tail cases, organizations like the Georgia Victim Assistance Academy provide resources for families dealing with the "re-victimization" that happens during decades of appeals.
Waseem Daker is still in prison, still fighting, and still one of the most polarizing figures in the Southern legal system. He’s a man who refuses to be forgotten, using the very system that convicted him to stay in the public eye.
Next Steps for Research:
Check the Georgia Department of Corrections "Find an Offender" website for his most recent facility transfer, as high-security inmates are often moved for administrative reasons. You can also monitor the 11th Circuit's "Opinions" page for his name; a new ruling seems to drop every few months.