Death penalty sought for SC man accused of killing EMS worker - WYFF 4

TO APPEAR WILL BE APRIL 30TH. ARRAIGNMENT JUST HOURS AWAY FOR A MAN THAT AUTHORITIES SAY IS SEEKING ARE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY, FOR HE’S ACCUSED OF KIDNAPING, CARJACKING AND EXECUTING AN EMS WORKER AND THEN FLEEING TO NEW MEXICO BACK IN 2024. THE U-S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST 35 YEAR-OLD JEREMY SMITH, PROSECUTORS SAY SMITH KIDNAPED FELICIA MACHADO, FOUR, FROM HER HOME BACK ON MARCH 13TH FORCED HER TO A REMOTE LOCATION AND KILLED HER. HE’S ALSO ACCUSED OF DRIVING TO NEW MEXICO AND KILLING STATE POLICE OFFICER JUSTIN HARE. TWO DAYS LATER, SMITH IS ALREADY SERVING LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE OFFICER’S DEATH, AND U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI IS AUTHORIZED SOUTH CAROLINA

Death penalty sought for man accused of executing South Carolina EMS worker, DOJ says

Updated: 12:39 PM EST Feb 26, 2026

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Authorities say they are seeking the death penalty for a South Carolina man accused of kidnapping, carjacking and executing an EMS worker and then fleeing to New Mexico. (Video above is previous coverage of this story) The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has announced its intent to seek the death penalty against Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, South Carolina, for the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Marion County EMS worker. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Feb. 24, charging Smith with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a crime of violence in a manner that constitute murder, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms.(Video below March 2024: Vehicle involved in New Mexico murder case led authorities to body of missing South Carolina paramedic, deputies say)The indictment says that on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion, where he kidnapped her and forced her to drive her vehicle to a remote location near Nichols. According to the indictment, once there, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house while she was bound and blindfolded. Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s car back to her residence, where he stole several firearms that he later sold, the indictment says. The indictment says Smith then drove the stolen car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024. In April 2025, Smith was sentenced to life in prison in the District of New Mexico for killing the NMSP officer.United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized the District of South Carolina to pursue capital punishment in this case. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Florence.

MARION, S.C. — Authorities say they are seeking the death penalty for a South Carolina man accused of kidnapping, carjacking and executing an EMS worker and then fleeing to New Mexico.

(Video above is previous coverage of this story)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has announced its intent to seek the death penalty against Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, South Carolina, for the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Marion County EMS worker.

New Mexico State Police

Jarmeny Smith A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Feb. 24, charging Smith with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a crime of violence in a manner that constitute murder, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms.

(Video below March 2024: Vehicle involved in New Mexico murder case led authorities to body of missing South Carolina paramedic, deputies say)

The indictment says that on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion, where he kidnapped her and forced her to drive her vehicle to a remote location near Nichols.

According to the indictment, once there, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house while she was bound and blindfolded.

Marion County Sheriff's Office

honesia Machado Fore Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s car back to her residence, where he stole several firearms that he later sold, the indictment says.

The indictment says Smith then drove the stolen car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024. In April 2025, Smith was sentenced to life in prison in the District of New Mexico for killing the NMSP officer.

United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized the District of South Carolina to pursue capital punishment in this case. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Florence.