Federal Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty Against Jaremy Smith

In the killing of Machado-Fore, Smith was indicted on charges including murder, kidnapping and more.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the man accused of killing a Pee Dee paramedic.

Jaremy Smith was indicted in connection to death of Phonesia Machado-Fore who was reported missing on March 14, 2024. An investigation revealed that what began as an attempt to steal guns from her home escalated after Smith shot and killed her execution style. Her body was found with facial injuries, a dog shock collar around her neck, and a bullet to the back of her head behind an abandoned Nichols residence.

Smith then stole her vehicle and was involved in a roadside ambush resulting in the killing of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. He is already serving a life sentence in that case. In the killing of Machado-Fore, Smith was indicted on charges including murder, motor-vehicle theft, kidnapping, unlawful transport of firearms, and receiving stolen firearms. He is also facing many other charges. He is set to be arraigned Thursday at a federal courthouse in Florence.