Marion County man accused of murdering New Mexico police officer faces no death penalty

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (WMBF) – The Pee Dee Man at the center of two death investigations thousands of miles apart will not face the death penalty.

A motion was filed in federal court on Wednesday saying federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty for 32-year-old Jaremy Smith.

Online records show that jury selection for Smith's trial in federal court is scheduled to begin Sept. 6. He remains in federal custody as of Thursday.

Smith has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of auto theft resulting in death and discharging a firearm during and in connection with a crime of violence related to the March 15 shooting death of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare.

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Smith is accused of stealing a car and shooting Hare after the officer was called to help Smith with a flat tire. The officer reportedly even offered Smith a ride into town. Smith is also charged in New Mexico with Hare's killing.

An investigation revealed that Smith was driving a BMW that had been stolen from Florence County paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, who Smith allegedly shot and killed two days earlier in South Carolina.

Two days after Hare's death, Smith was arrested in a New Mexico neighborhood.

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