2nd suspect’s charges upgraded to murder after teen’s death in Union County
The second suspect who was arrested in connection with an 18-year-old’s death in Union County is now facing a murder charge, according to jail records obtained by Channel 9 Thursday.
Victoria Smith, 22, who was originally arrested for obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact, is now charged with murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Smith was arrested in July after the Union County Sheriff’s Office began investigating 18-year-old Jacob Williamson’s death.
Williamson was reported missing by family members in Laurens, South Carolina, after he was last seen on June 30.
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Investigators said Williamson had been talking to a man online, and that the two planned to meet in person for the first time Friday night. They said Joshua Newton picked Williamson near the restaurant where the 18-year-old worked in Laurens and drove the victim back to his home in Monroe -- more than two hours away.
After spending 36 hours investigating the circumstances around Williamson’s disappearance, the sheriff said a body believed to be Williamson’s was found Tuesday afternoon. Investigators found the body on the side of Mangum School Road in South Carolina -- a few miles from Newton’s house.
Investigators believe Newton killed Williamson at his home and his girlfriend helped him hide the body.
Lieutenant James Maye said he believed both suspects made plans to kill Williamson before they even picked him up.
“I don’t have a time frame of when this thought first entered their head with the conspiracy, but like I said we do believe that there was a plan to unfortunately take the life of Williamson. And we knew that plan was in place before the act occurred,” Maye explained.
Newton, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Smith was Newton’s live-in girlfriend.
Both of them are being held in custody with no bond.
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Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz spoke with a close friend of Williamson who said the new charges are fueling her fight for justice.
“They are going to know that they messed with the wrong person and picked the wrong victim,” Promise Edwards said.
Edwards said she was skeptical of Williamson’s friendship with Newton and had a bad feeling when Williamson wanted to meet up with his new internet friend.
“I think he picked Jacob because he was vulnerable ... because he was ostracized from his family. He was looking for love and acceptance. And he was an easy target because of that,” Edwards explained.
Edwards said these new charges offer a light at the end of a dark tunnel she has been in since Williamson’s death. She said she’s not fighting for justice and helping detectives any way she can.
“He didn’t really have too much of a voice in life and it’s my job to make sure he gets heard in his death,” Edwards said.
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