Jamilla Smith death: Autopsy reveals South Carolina woman who went missing in 2023 was shot in the head
AIKEN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Jamilla Shanae Smith, 38, disappeared in December 2023, and her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Gabriel Harmon, was arrested for kidnapping and murder.
Smith's body was recovered on May 10 in a wooded area on Silver Bluff Road, Aiken, South Carolina, according to USA Today.
“The Aiken County Coroner Daryll Ables, Aiken Department of Public Safety and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division assisted with the recovery efforts,” police said a release.
The remains were identified and an autopsy conducted by the Aiken County Coroner confirmed that Smith had been shot in the head.
Insights into Jamilla Shanae Smith and Daniel Gabriel Harmon's relationship
Both Smith and Harmon were initially listed as missing endangered persons on December 4, 2023 by the Aiken County Sheriff's Office. Notably, the South Carolina woman was last heard from by her family on December 2.
At the time, the Aiken County Sheriff's Office reported that the pair had "a history of domestic violence incidents", and that "information conveyed to investigators revealed that Daniel has some mental health issues and made some threats of self-harm."
Daniel Gabriel Harmon chases ex-girlfriend, runs her over with car as she calls 911
An arrest affidavit later disclosed that a breathless Smith placed a 911 call on December 2, reporting that her ex-boyfriend had broken into her home and was chasing her down the road.
During the call, an engine revving was heard, followed by Smith screaming and pleading, "No, don't touch me, don’t hurt me please, and you hit me."
"The phone appears to drop," the affidavit stated, before a male voice, believed to be Harmon's, instructed Smith to get into his car so he could take her to the emergency room.
"The man could be heard saying, 'You jumped in front of the car,' and Smith said, 'No, I didn't.' Smith said, 'Leave me alone, it hurts, I can't," the documents continued, as reported by WJBF.
"She screams, 'No,' some more and said, 'You ran over me'." The line then went dead, and the victim was never taken to the hospital.
After a manhunt, Harmon was arrested and initially slapped with domestic violence charges.
Later, the charges escalated to kidnapping and murder after alleged blood evidence was discovered in the trunk of his car. Two other men, Harmon's cousin Bryan Alexander Hampton Jr, who surrendered to police, and Clyde Hendley II, were arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
Initially, it was believed that Harmon had run Smith over with his car but now the Aiken County Coroner has released Smith's cause of death and it has been confirmed that she was shot in the head.
