It Could Have Been Me: Chris Smith | Forensic Files

If I can come back from a deathbed and survive this and defy medical odds and create medical
history or rewrite medical history, [Music] anybody can come back and achieve anything in life. No matter how bleak
things look in life, there's always a sun rising on the other side. [Music] >> If you are seeking inspiration, look no
further than Chris Smith. His is a story of resilience and recovery. Back in November of 2021, Chris was on a first
date with a woman named Leslie Reeves. Now, they had gone back to his house when Leslie's ex-boyfriend, Bobby Tar,
forced his way inside and shot them both. Leslie died, but Chris miraculously survived a bullet wound to
his head. He lay comeomaosse in the hospital for several weeks before waking up. And when he did, he had no memory of
what happened that night. So, how did Chris defy the medical odds and survive the unthinkable? I'm Natalie Morales of
48 Hours, and this is It Could Have Been Me. [Music] You're going to be hearing from Chris in
just a few minutes. But first, I would like to introduce producer Paul Rosa. He knows this case well. He worked on this
story uh for an episode of 48 hours with correspondent Aaron Morardi. Paul, so good to have you join us today on what
is such an incredible story of survival and real grit. >> Great to be here because Chris is one of
the most um interesting and resilient people I've ever met. >> I know he really touched you and had an
impact on our entire 48 hours team. Walk me through, Paul, what happened on that
night, November 24th, 2021. Right. So, um it was the day before Thanksgiving, the evening before
Thanksgiving, and Chris and Lesie had met on Facebook as people do these days. Um they never met in person before this
night, but they had texted with each other. They had spoken on the phone to each other and there was sympotico in a
number of ways, mostly because they were really into physical fitness. And um Leslie ran a Pilates studio, yoga
studio. She taught women self-defense and Chris was in the best shape of his life when this shooting happened. But
anyway, the night before Thanksgiving is traditionally a night when people go out
drinking and that's exactly what they did. Um Chris said, "Why don't you come up to Farmersville, which was about an
hour from where Leslie lived and um she was in Troy, Illinois." They both had kids and uh Leslie's kids were with her
ex that evening and same with Chris. So, they were without their children. And Chris had a big house and he told
Leslie, "You can sleep in one of the bedrooms if we go out drinking too much, whatever." And that was the plan. She
told her girlfriends where she was going to be. She gave them the address because, after all, she never met this
guy. But they went out drinking to a place called the Uptown Saloon. And then they went to a second bar. Everything
was hunky dory. Then they went to Chris's nearby house. >> Yeah. Paul, because I understand at some
point Leslie's ex-boyfriend, Bobby Tar, he started to follow them and and showed
up at Chris's house. Right. >> Right. No one knows what really happened except Bobby Tar who was convicted of
the crime because Leslie is dead and Chris remembers nothing from that night. So, it's
difficult for investigators to know exactly what happened. But what they what the evidence reveals happened is
Bobby Tar tried to push his way in. He Leslie spotted him through the glass side door. She moved her refrigerator,
police believe, in front of the door to try to block him. He was able to maneuver the door part of the way open.
Chris was crouched down trying to push the door with his shoulder and his weight and um Bobby Tar shot him in the
head. According to police, Chris went down. Tar walked in. Leslie ran into the living room, hid behind a Christmas
tree, and according to the prosecutors, Bobby Tar walked in, shot Leslie one time right in the top of the head.
>> I mean, it's so horrific. Um, the timeline, I understand, is a little unclear as well, but we know it was
sometime in the very early morning hours, though. >> It was around 1:00 a.m. when this all
this mayhem occurred, according to investigators. And uh Leslie and Chris's friends and family were concerned when
they didn't hear from them the next morning. Now it's Thanksgiving morning. Both of them had plans to go to
Thanksgiving dinner at, you know, separate locations. And when the friends didn't hear from Leslie in particular,
um you know, she had a bunch of girlfriends who she knew she was dating, knew Bobby Tar, knew that Bobby Tar had
stalked her before. just a month before Tar had shown up at another first date that Leslie was having. They were
concerned. They knew the address. In particular, a friend named Nanet Styber decided, "I can't raise her on the
phone. I'm driving there." So, she drove an hour up to Farmersville. On the way,
she called the local sheriff's office. At the same time, a 16-year-old girl who knew Chris showed up at the scene. So
this young girl named Bjon Smith, she walked over to the side door. She saw blood everywhere. She saw Chris on the
floor. She immediately called 911. And we have a recording of that phone call. >> Nobody's answering the door and and the
back window shattered and there's a body and there's blood on the stove and there's a foot I saw on the floor.
>> Chris, however, was still alive, which I mean barely alive, which is truly miraculous. Yes. And um Farmersville
being the small town it is, the first two medics who appeared were friends of Chris and he knew them well. And you
know, of course, they were, you know, horrified themselves. Here's their buddy. And uh with Chris was his
faithful dog, Tikki. Tikki is a female dog. Um very loyal to Chris. And Tikki huddled with Chris according to people
at the scene and probably saved his life because the glass door was broken so a lot of cold air was coming in and um
this medic decided um that he didn't want to wait for a helicopter to get there. He put Chris in the ambulance
with another medic and he drove like a bat out of hell to the hospital. Again, timing is everything. probably helped to
save Chris's life. >> And let's take a listen now to what investigator Josh Eastston said when he
described the scene to you and to correspondent Aaron Morardi. >> I was overwhelmed when I saw the
kitchen. >> What do you mean? >> There was just so much blood and it was it was everywhere. There was not a spot
on the kitchen floor that didn't have blood on it. >> And what does that say to you? that I
don't know what went on in there, but it was it was horrible. For Chris, it was unescribable. Without you being there, I
I can't even make you understand how bad it was. >> Josh Eastston, who is with the Illinois
State Police, it's his job to catalog all the evidence. um go in and sure enough, I mean, we talked about the
blood, but in the middle of that, there were also two shell casings, one in the kitchen, one in the living room. There
was no murder weapon. So, that of course told them that someone else had to have
been involved, a third person. And we know um you know investigators were quickly able to identify an a person of
interest, Bobby Tar, because the friends had already told them that Leslie had a
stalker and it was her ex-boyfriend Bobby Tar. How soon after then was he arrested, Paul?
>> Well, this investigation unfolded rapidly. They find his license, a registration where he lives, and they
put that license into the license plate readers up and down the highway. Um, one
of the hits was near a gas station. They went there, they found a receipt where he had paid for gas at a certain time
that night. So, they began sort of creating a timeline of his movements before they even spoke to him. um they
were able to um later on get his cell phone records as well. Remember this happened, the shooting at 1:00 a.m. by
8:00 p.m. that evening, just hours later, um they were going to Bobby Tar's house and asking him if he would agree
to be questioned and he submitted to the uh interrogation. They put him under arrest at about it was the it was the
next day. It was the morning after Thanksgiving >> and he was arraigned on those murder
charges and attempted murder charges. Um to this day though he maintains his innocence.
>> That's right. He um Bobby Ar likes to pretend to be the like what what me likes to pretend that you know he never
did anything wrong. Well, this episode of course is not about Bobby Tar, but it is about the survivor himself, Chris
Smith, and his remarkable recovery. You'll hear from Chris when we come back. [Music]
>> So, let's hear from Chris Smith himself. Chris, welcome. It is such an honor to
meet you. >> Thank you. And likewise. Now, Chris and Paul, I understand you guys text each
other weekly, right? >> Yeah, I kind of know him. Yeah, I uh I ask a lot of advice from him, actually.
>> Yeah. And he's he you know, Chris is a terrific guy, as you'll see. >> And and Chris, I know that you actually
wrote a book about your survival and the incredible odds in your recovery. Yes. Um it's called My Fatal First Date is
now available for purchase. and you explained to the readers that your story really is a journey of blood, sweat, and
tears. You've had to work really hard to get where you are today. Tell us about the injuries you sustained and where
exactly the injury was. If you can point to it. >> Well, actually, it's kind of hard with
the earphones on, but the bolt went in about 5 in above my ear, straight the top of my head. And as you know, Paul
said, I'm sure you all have talked about I don't remember anything of that night.
I don't remember Lesie. I was told that we met on Facebook, >> which I find really interesting because
they spoke on the phone and texted 2 weeks before the incident. But it's interesting how the brain works. It just
excised Leslie out of his brain. Now, see, I do remember some stuff, you know, like I remember past my neighbor's house
on the drive home that afternoon. I remember some stuff from October and then like basically I want to say from
like the beginning beginning of November on to the shooting, I don't remember much. if that makes any sense. So, it's
like my brain cut out the whole month. Go figure. I don't know. It's very odd. >> I mean, when you talk about where you
were shot and and how long you were in your kitchen and on the kitchen floor and were able to survive with blood and
everything all around you. Um, I know they had to remove part of your skull, but they weren't able to get the entire
bullet out, right? >> No, it's still 9 mm hollow point is actually still right behind my right
eye. And they say it's a fragment, but it's actually the whole thing. What? What? What when they say fragment, what
fragmented was my actual skull fragmented. That's what they're picking out of my brain was my skull, not the
actual bolt. The bolt never moved and dislodged right here in my frontal lobe. And I mean, I should still be in a coma,
still be b I should be bedridden on a ventilator with severe cognitive deficits. And the doctors are perplexed
by that. >> I want to play some of the sound from your doctor, Dr. Victor Williams. Aaron
Moriardi asked him about your chances of survival after the shooting. So all the
odds kind of were against him when he arrived at the hospital. >> It would appear so.
>> But he managed to survive. >> It's a blessing and a miracle that he did. >> They don't have an explanation, right,
Chris? >> No, they don't. No, they don't. >> What's your explanation? >> Well, um I call it divine intervention.
And two of my worst traits before I was shot, stubbornness and impatience are not my best attributes cuz And then I'll
never forget the day I woke up from the coma, I met Dr. Williams. He came in and
he said, "Chris, I know your family. I know your sister. My sister's a neuro telemetry nurse and she actually worked
for him on the floor that I was at." And he said, "But I hate to tell you, I'm not going to BS you. You're never going
to walk again." And I sat there, started tearing up, and I mean, just had a lump
in my throat and felt like someone punched me in my gut. And I sat there and I thought about it for a second. And
I looked at him. I said, "Victor, you just told the wrong person he can't do something because I'm going to do it out
of spite to prove you wrong." And now you're walking again. >> Yes, I'll be with a cane. I can walk
without one now, but I kind of look like a zombie. But um I will get back there.
I am. I'm determined to and I have to. As I told Paul before, hey, life gives us lemon and limes. You've got to dig
down deep with that tequila and that sugar water, make poor man's margaritas, and just suck it up, pull your
bootstraps up, work your tail off, and you can accomplish anything, overcome anything, exceeded anything, and be
unstoppable, too. >> Yeah. And I know we were talking uh about what you do and don't remember uh
about that that night and what happened when you were asked then about Leslie. Do you remember what you said?
>> Well, when I woke up from my coma, I mean, I look up, I'm like, I have tubes on me, oxygen. I look on the wall and it
says to Paul Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri. And I'm like, wait, what the? And I started yelling and screaming. The
nurses came rushing in. Chris, calm down. Calm down. I'm like, what am I doing here? What happened? And the one
nurse says, Lesie's ex-boyfriend shot you. And I said, who the f is a Leslie? I don't know Lesie. Cuz I didn't know I
didn't know her. I really didn't. >> Um, I want to go back to, you know, what what perhaps allowed you to get through
this in the best possible way. Not just, of course, the incredible acts of your friends, the medics who transported you
to the hospital. They knew they didn't have the time to spare, but then also, you know, the fact that your family,
your sister, as you said, worked with the doctor was there along your side. I know your family had to help pull you
through as well. Can you talk about them? >> My sister saw some fight in me and I
started in the ICU when I started coming out of the coma. They tried to medically
put me in a coma, medically induced coma, which they did succeed to do that. But there she saw life in me. I mean, I
was saying this craziest things. I wanted my truck keys in my jacket, and I thought I was going to walk out of
there. Now, you if it's on my YouTube, but you can barely understand what I'm saying, but I mean, it's like a comedian
was worn. I wanted vitamin D, red cap, whole milk. I swear it was under my bed, and rum chada. I've never drank rum
chada in my entire life. Why? The only thing I could think of was maybe that night it was on a bar or something like
that. I mean, our brains are so mysterious. They don't know enough about them. They really need to do more brain
research. >> I know you call it your ICU comedy special because the way you were
reacting when you came out of that coma. >> Yes, it was crazy. But I mean, I didn't
like to fully become conscious until they transfer me to St. Louis, you know, January 12th.
>> I I've seen and I know I mean I've seen glimpses of that sense of humor. And I
know that uh you actually have a funny nickname that you went by with Paul on a on a text, right? What did you call
yourself? >> Bullet boy. Hey, it's me, Bullet Boy. At that point, I had talked to him like
once on the phone and you know, I'm conditioned to treat victims very seriously and like, you know, I know he
was shot in the head and you know, I want to give him due respect and all that and I wasn't going to joke around
with him, but he was joking around on his own. >> Yeah. I mean, my sense of humor has been
one of the best healing mechanisms I've had and I've never lost that. That's a good thing because I think it's a
survival and a coping mechanism that everybody needs when they go through such horrific trauma and tragedy. Um,
going back to when you were able to get out of the hospital though, Chris, that was February of 2022.
>> So, I know you had to move in uh with your mom and and your stepdad because you really couldn't take care of
yourself the way you wanted to and that you lost your home at the time. >> Yeah. I mean, it it sucked, but it is
what it is, you know. I had to do what I had to do. And, you know, luckily enough
that my parents are my mom's cool still. She'll be 70 in July, you know, so we're
like only 17 years apart, but uh 17 and a half. Got to add that half on there. So, you know, I'm I'm very fortunate and
I love my stepdad to death, you know. So, I mean, I'm very lucky. >> Paul, I know you've met them as well.
>> Yeah, he has a great family. I've met his uh mother, his stepfather, and his sister. And you know, his sister is very
intelligent and she's a nurse and um beautiful person and the stepfather's very friendly and has two big dogs that
run around the house. And that's one reason, by the way, that Tikki uh was no longer living with Chris. Tikki the dog
that helped Yes. >> protect his life. Tikki is with a neighbor. >> Yeah, I was wondering about that, Chris.
I mean, do you feel that Tiki might have helped save your life that night? >> Definitely. They don't understand how I
lived with so much blood I lost. But she was laying right there cuddled up next to me
>> the whole time. So, she's a great dog. >> And I think there was some evidence as
well. Was it on your chest that she had tried to get on you? >> Yeah. Her little little pile marks are
right there. Yeah. >> Just >> We didn't I guess no one knew what that was at the beginning and then he figured
it out or his family figured out. She was just trying to wake her daddy up. >> By the way, I don't know if we ever
mentioned it, but he was there for about 12 hours laying on the kitchen floor before anyone found him.
>> Yes. >> In April of 2024, though, um we know that that's when Bobby Tar's trial
happened. >> You were you there? >> No, I did not go. >> His family was there. Um and they told
him every day what was happening. And he, another reason Chris didn't go, he could tell you himself, is that he said
his anger would not let him go. He was afraid of what he might do if he was in the courtroom. You could tell them
yourself, Chris. >> Yeah. What I mean, I said I'd take him out one, you know, one hand, one arm. I
mean, it's like what he did is the most cowardly act anybody can do. >> But we should say that you were there
for the sentencing and you got a chance to give an impact statement. Yes, I did.
And um how did it feel to be in the same courtroom with Bobby Tar? >> It I mean the guy's a piece of dirt, you
know? I mean he's a a sorry excuse for a human being. >> You talked about the fact that Tar
killed you without killing you. What did you mean by that? >> He took he took my life and me. He
affected so many other people. My family, my little girl, my son, I mean my friends. I mean they've had to suffer
with me through my recovery. We cannot forget the victim here as well, Leslie Reeves, and what her family has had to
go through and endure as well. Just horrific the tragedy. >> I mean, it makes you grateful for what
everything you have, you know. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. You are the living testament of that. Now, um Chris,
though, when when Bobby Tar was found guilty on four counts, including first-degree murder and attempted
murder, what was your reaction to the verdict? I was happy, but I wish they had a death penalty in Illinois. But I
mean, he he won't be he won't get out till he's 104 years old, and he's not going to live that long,
>> right? Sentenced to 85 years in prison. Um, what was truly shocking though is
even after Bobby Tar is convicted, he's in prison. Then you come to find out that he there was a solicitation of
murder on you. The story goes, according to prosecutors and his defense attorney,
that Bobby Tar had solicited an inmate to go to the hospital room where Chris was recovering and shoot him. We are
told by prosecutors that some money did change hands. So, he tar was indicted, but the charges were ultimately dropped
for various reasons. The biggest reason being that Tar is in jail or prison for 85 years and it seems to be no point in
having another trial and maybe another sentence. 85 years is a lifetime sentence for Tar.
>> Correct. Yes. >> You still have um some recovery ahead of you, right? >> Yes, I do. Yes. Um I have been doing
it's called menusal stem cell transplants, MSC's. They harvest stem cells from either my pelvic bone right
and left side now. But um and then they shoot them up your into your your nose up to the vessel supplying your brain.
So I mean it's not FDA approved yet, but it should be here shortly because it has
restored a lot of my function to my left hand side. I'm not running yet, but Paul
knows it will be someday. Hopefully sooner than later. >> Physically, I've seen changes. when he
first started. By the way, Chris is still the lead singer in his rock and roll band. That's true. He used to play
guitar. He can't play guitar anymore, but when I s first saw him performing, he has he always had a great voice. He's
a good singer, but he his left arm would shake like crazy like this. And we would
joke that he would joke that he should put a tambourine in it and try to keep beat so it wouldn't look so odd when he
was singing because it would just never stop moving. Now, of course, it's pretty
steady, and I've seen recent video of him performing, and he looks better than ever. His arm doesn't shake. He's
standing more. He occasionally he would sit in his wheelchair and sing, but the last clip I saw, he was standing the
whole time and arm was steady. >> Well, it's great to see you singing again and still performing with your
band. I hear though there is another woman in your life who has >> really become your angel. You have
fallen in love again. Tell me about her. >> We uh Michelle and I met. It'll be two
years this June and we've got a house together and Yeah, I'm starting over again. You know, starting over.
>> You're engaged to be married now? >> Yes, we are. >> When are you going to get married?
>> We're looking at this fall. >> Mhm. >> Oh, amazing. What led you to write the
book? >> Well, I as I told Paul, I had no intention of writing a book. Everybody
from day one's like, "You've got to write a book. You got to write a book. You got to write a book." Well,
throughout my recovery, people have been reaching out to me, you know, from all over the world through Facebook, I mean,
through other social media outlets and whatnot. And I was like, you know what? I can do it. I can do it. I'll I
basically wrote it like I was sitting down having a conversation with somebody like I'm talking to you right now. You
know, just telling my story, all the intimate details that 48 hours couldn't cover, you know, in the first run. And
that's what I've done. I was like, I put my thumb to my iPhone because I can't I
can't type. I hate saying the word can't. I'm unable to type. So, I literally wrote my whole book on my
iPhone 14. All typing with my thumb. And just my message is to inspire people, motivate people, and show everybody no
matter how bleak things look in life, there's always silver lining. And you can always dig yourself out of the hole.
you can accomplish and achieve anything that you want as long as you put your mind to it and work your tail off.
>> For those who are struggling in their lives, do you have some advice you'll share? What's your perspective that you
tell them? >> Life is too precious to ever give up on anything. We don't know how many grains
we have left in our hourglass. Don't ever give up on anything. Love your family. Love your kids. Love your
friends because you don't know when your last you know the last grain will fall.
But just live life to the fullest. Have fun, laugh, don't take things too serious.
I mean, I'm not the wisest person in the world, but I have learned a lot of wisdom throughout this whole situation.
>> Chris, you are truly one of the most remarkable people I've spoken with. So, you know, well done on on all that
you've done to not only thrive and survive, but you are out there spreading your message and giving inspiration to
so many. So, we thank you so much for that. Thank you so much. >> And Paul, thank you also for joining us,
>> of course. >> And thanks to you all for listening and watching. And you can find and follow It
Could Have Been Me in the 48 hours podcast feed. It is on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.
And if you liked this episode, please rate and review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
[Music]

When Chris Smith arranged to meet Leslie Reeves for a first date, he never expected it would end in such a bloody scene. Leslie was killed that night while Chris barely survived being shot in the head. "48 Hours" correspondent Natalie Morales and producer Paul LaRosa spoke with Chris about his miraculous recovery and how he finds the strength and motivation to move forward.

Crime. Social justice. Impact. "48 Hours" investigates the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience including greed and passion. "48 Hours," which premiered in 1988, has developed a rich history of original reporting and impact journalism that has helped exonerate wrongly convicted people, caused cold cases to be reopened and solved, and along the way changed lives.

For video licensing inquiries, contact: licensing@veritone.com

Brief Summary

Chris Smith shares his survival story after being shot, emphasizing resilience and recovery following a tragic first date incident.

Key points

Chris Smith's Miraculous Survival. Chris defied the odds after being shot in the head, showcasing incredible resilience.
The Night of the Shooting. On a first date, Chris and Leslie faced a horrific attack from her ex-boyfriend.
Chris's Journey of Recovery. Chris shares his incredible recovery story and the challenges he faced post-attack.
Chris's Journey to Recovery. Chris discusses his recovery process and the innovative treatments he's undergoing.
A New Love. Chris shares about finding love again after hardship.
Writing His Story. Chris reveals how he wrote his book on his iPhone to inspire others.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

There's always a sun rising on the other side.

Chris Smith's inspiring message about resilience.

0:14WatchJul 20, 2025

Tension

75/ 100High tension

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.