BALTIMORE _ The husband and stepdaughter charged in the death of an Aberdeen woman who was fatally stabbed in Baltimore _ which they initially said happened after she gave money to a panhandler _ were arraigned in Texas on Monday, authorities said.
Baltimore Police announced Sunday that detectives had received warrants in Maryland for Keith Smith, 52, and his daughter, Valeria Smith, 28. They were arrested just north of the U.S.-Mexico border Sunday morning.
After the death of Jacquelyn Smith, 54, in East Baltimore on Dec. 1, the Smiths claimed publicly that she was killed after rolling down her window to give money to a panhandler. Police have released few additional details about the case, or said what evidence led them to arrest the father and daughter more than three months after the killing.
Acting Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, in a meeting with The Baltimore Sun editorial board Monday, said that the timeline of the arrest was affected by the Smiths' proximity to the border, but that the case wasn't rushed.
"I can say that being notified that they were in Texas certainly added to the evidence we already had to convince us that it was not the homeless person, (and) probable cause existed that it was more than likely their involvement," Harrison said. "I think there's enough evidence to support that this still would have been the outcome."
Harrison said he could not reveal details supporting the arrest warrant because he did not want to compromise the case's chances in court. He also said the investigation was still ongoing.
"There are still other pieces of evidence to collect and perhaps other witnesses that we have to speak with," Harrison said.
The Smiths were arraigned before a Cameron County, Texas district court judge Monday morning, said Lt. Joe Elizardi, a spokesman for the Cameron County Sheriff's Office. The deadline to extradite the Smiths back to Maryland is March 15, but Elizardi said no plans have been made yet.
The father and daughter are each being charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault and conspiracy to commit assault, as well as a dangerous weapon charge.
It's not the first time Keith Smith finds himself in trouble with the law. Twenty years ago, he robbed the old First Union Bank on York Road in Timonium three times _ the first in December 1999. He carried a pellet gun, which the tellers thought was a real firearm, and he would order them on the ground then hop the counter and empty the money drawers into a black bag, Baltimore County police wrote in a report.
He stole $38,600, the detectives wrote, before leading police on a car chase and crashing in West Baltimore. Back at the police station, Smith confessed.
"He just found out a few months ago that he was HIV positive and that he lost his job with Federal Express because he had obtained too many points on his driving record," wrote the detective. "He stated that he was a single parent, raising his child alone. He stated that his bills were past due so he needed money."
Smith pleaded guilty to robbery with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Jacquelyn Smith's killing has drawn national attention _ and now anger from local officials who said the couple used Baltimore's violence epidemic as a cover-up to the murder.
"Oftentimes, we have these negative depictions of our city and it's rather unfortunate when people take advantages of these negative perceptions," Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said Sunday.
In a city that has a national reputation for its violence, this case received a considerable amount of attention, including from Oprah Winfrey, who express concern about giving money to panhandlers in the future. Some of the city's homeless residents said they noticed a decrease in the number of people willing to roll down their windows and help.
Keith Smith had given numerous media interviews where he spoke of a woman who appeared to be holding a baby and had a cardboard sign that said "Please Help me feed my Baby." Although Smith said he was reluctant to open the window late at night, his wife "felt moved to give her some money."
Smith had even vowed to get a law passed in his wife's memory banning panhandling, though the Baltimore City Code already prohibited panhandling to motorists.
"Something needs to be done," Smith said previously. "There are some desperate people. They don't need help; they're trying to hurt you."
Jacquelyn Smith's brother, Marcel Trisvan of Havre de Grace, said he has long suspected Keith Smith in his sister's death because his story about the supposed panhandlers didn't add up.
"It never made sense. I told (detectives) from the very beginning there are no suspects out there," he said.
Tandra Ridgley, an Aberdeen resident, attended church with the Smiths at Helping Hands Ministries in Churchville and said she knew Keith Smith for about three years. She said she's not prepared to cast judgment on "Brother Keith" until more facts come to light.
"I am waiting to see the case unfold," she said. "Personally I never ever got that type of vibe from him _ I never got any type of creepiness or weirdness out of him."
