February 25, 2017
FCSO ARRESTS THIRD SUSPECT IN MURDER CASE
SUBJECT Debra Turner Smith, age 62, of 5942 Liberty Chapel Road, Lot D, Florence, SC was arrested by deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office on February 24, 2017 and charged with one count of Accessory After the Fact of a Felony (S.C. Code Ann. 16-01-055). See FCSO Booking Website for additional details.
NARRATIVE: On February 24, 2017 Investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office arrested Debra Turner Smith of Florence, SC in connection with the murder of Malcolm Kindred “Kenny” Kemmerlin on February 2, 2017. Debra Smith, who was taken into custody in Horry County on February 24, 2017, is charged with Accessory After the Fact of a Felony. According to Investigators, she is alleged to have driven Michael Joe Smith, who has been charged with Kemmerlin’s murder, away from Florence County thereby aiding him in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
Earlier this week, on February 23, 2017 FCSO arrested Rasheem Kevin Thomas of Florence, SC and charged him with one count of Murder and one count of Accessory Before the Fact of a Felony in connection with this incident. Thomas is alleged to have been with Michael Smith when Kemmerlin was murdered and is also alleged to have provided Michael Smith with the handgun used to kill Kemmerlin.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing and additional charges are possible. Debra Turner Smith was released from the Florence County Detention Center on February 25, 2017 on a $100,000.00 surety bond.
END
Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
