Brother of Evansville woman killed in collision charged with reckless homicide

EVANSVILLE — The Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office released new details about the death of 62-year-old Faith Raelynn Georges, who was fatally struck by a van Thursday afternoon north of Evansville.

Georges' brother, 60-year-old Daniel Brian Smith, is now in custody and preliminarily charged with reckless homicide and driving on a suspended license, both Level 5 felonies, according to Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson.

The VCSO said Smith is currently detained at a local hospital where he is undergoing treatment for an unrelated health issue.

Speaking at a Friday afternoon news conference, Robinson said Smith had an argument with Georges prior to the incident, which reportedly occurred around 6 p.m. Thursday.

According to Robinson, Smith and Georges both shared a residence in the 11600 block of Sawmill Drive. Robinson said Georges attempted to remove a license plate from the vehicle Smith was driving prior to being struck.

Smith currently has a suspended license, according to the VCSO.

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"Smith said he could hear Faith screaming and yelling at him when he backed out of the driveway of the residence," Robinson wrote in a news release. "He said he left, not realizing Faith was behind the vehicle. Mr. Smith said he returned to the residence a few seconds later to find his sister in the roadway."

VCSO detectives said Smith then asked a neighbor to dial 911.

First responders transported Georges to Deaconess Hospital, where she would succumb to her injuries. Smith was taken to a local hospital to undergo toxicology tests, detectives said Friday.

At the hospital, Smith reportedly agreed to speak with investigators, who said he expressed remorse and regret.

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At the Friday news conference, detectives also said Smith had allegedly taken several prescription narcotics prior to the incident. Toxicology results are still pending, they said, and Smith remains hospitalized "for a pre-existing medical condition not related to the crash."

Georges' family has setup a GoFundMe account to raise funeral expenses – which has to date raised more than $9,000. Their public post says Georges was a woman loved by many.

"All she ever wanted was to help people and see her grandkids," the GoFundMe entry reads. "Her laugh was contagious and could fill a room instantly because you could feel her joy and happiness."

Robinson said Smith is "in the custody of deputies," but his arrest is pending until he can be released from the hospital and booked into the Vanderburgh County jail.

Under Indiana law, Level 5 felonies such as reckless homicide can typically carry prison sentences of about six years.

Houston Harwood can be contacted at walter.harwood@courierpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Daniel Smith charged with reckless homicide in death of Faith Georges