A Denver jury convicted Apostol, the half-brother of bluegrass musician Billy Strings, for a homicide that occurred in September 2020 [2], [3].

The conviction concludes a legal process spanning nearly six years. The case has drawn public attention due to the high profile of Billy Strings, a Grammy-winning artist, and the nature of the crime.

According to court records, the victim was 31-year-old Zackary Smith [1]. Smith's body was discovered inside a vehicle that had been parked in a Denver alley [0], [2]. The jury rendered its verdict on June 12, 2026 [0], [4].

While some reports initially suggested the case involved a vehicular homicide related to a DUI crash, the Denver Post and other primary sources confirm the conviction pertains to the killing of Smith in the alleyway [0].

Legal proceedings in Denver have focused on the events of September 2020 [3]. The jury's decision on June 12, 2026 [4], marks the final stage of the trial process before sentencing. The case highlights the complexities of long-term homicide investigations in the U.S.

“A Denver jury convicted Apostol, the half-brother of bluegrass musician Billy Strings”

This conviction resolves a cold-case homicide from 2020 that lingered in the judicial system for several years. The connection to a celebrity figure like Billy Strings often increases the scrutiny on the legal process, but the core of the case remains the violent death of a citizen and the subsequent pursuit of justice in the Denver metropolitan area.