Seventeen arrest warrants have been issued for Jaremy Smith in the kidnapping and murder of local paramedic, wife, and mother of two, Phonesia Machado-Fore, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Arrest warrants are as follows: Burglary 1st Degree (2 counts), Kidnapping, Murder, Carjacking, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime (2 counts), Felon in Possession of a Firearm (7 counts), Criminal Conspiracy, and Grand Larceny of a Motor Vehicle (2 counts).
Assisting agencies include the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, Dillon County Coroner’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, as well as the United States Marshals Service. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office also wishes to acknowledge our partnership with the Fourth and Twelfth Circuit Solicitors’ offices.
Also, this conclusion would not be possible without the incredible collaboration with the New Mexico State Police and Bernanillo County Sheriff’s Office, who in the midst of losing a brother, dug their heels in and worked tirelessly to identify, charge, and apprehend Jaremy Smith in New Mexico.
“I have never seen a larger investigative force and collaboration than I have with this case. For days, my office was filled with law enforcement officers from federal, state, and local agencies around the clock with one mission: find Phonesia and the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. While we regret that we were unable to return Phonesia to her loved ones alive and well, we were able to locate her and offer her loved ones an opportunity to say a final farewell. I am incredibly proud of my own department. They have worked together flawlessly and put in hundreds of hours of overtime to ensure that this case was resolved. We are far from done. This is still an active investigation. We will not rest until every person involved in this horrific crime is brought to justice. Our hearts will always be with the family of Phonesia Machado-Fore, the New Mexico State Police and the family of Officer Justin Hare,” said Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace.
“Senseless, tragic, those are some of the words that I can use to best define this case. However, the citizens have entrusted law enforcement to make sure justice will prevail. I cannot begin to say, ‘Thank You’ enough to the many law enforcement agencies involved in this case. Sheriff Wallace has already mentioned the multiple agencies involved but I would also like to recognize our citizens. This case brought national attention and our community truly got involved. Our citizens readily stepped up to ensure justice would prevail. May we never forget Phonesia Machado-Fore. I ask our community now to put their focus on her family and continue to lift her family up in prayer. Further, may we not forget the tragic loss of fellow officer Justin Hare, New Mexico State Police. I certainly believe in the power of prayer,” said Dillon County Sheriff Jamie Hamilton.
Machado-Fore, age 52, was found dead on Jones Drive in Lake View on Friday, March 15, after having been reported missing on that Tuesday.
Jackson & McGill Funeral Home, LLC, handled Machado-Fore’s funeral arrangements. Funeral services were held at the CD Joyner Auditorium in Marion on Saturday, March 23rd.
