Sunday, June 19, 2011

Charlotte, NC: Woman charged in teen's stabbing death

A teenager is dead and a 24-year-old woman, apparently the victim's girlfriend, has been charged in his death.

On Saturday, investigators from the Rowan County Sheriff's Office were called to a home on Guinn Avenue in Kannapolis after receiving a report of a suicide.

But when investigators arrived to collect evidence and interview people at the home, they found reason to believe the death of 17-year-old James Mack was not a suicide, according to the Sheriff's Office.

After detectives revisited the crime scene and conducted more interviews, they determined Mack's death was related to domestic violence and that Ebony Justine Smith had stabbed the teen at the home where they both lived.

Mack's Facebook page says he was in a relationship with Smith and went to Concord High School.

By Saturday evening, about 450 people had joined a Facebook page set up in memory of the teen, who went by the nickname "J. Mack."

"One of the sweetest guys in Concord, lived a hard life but never let it stop him," wrote one friend on the page.

"I'm sorry things had to turn out like they did...," wrote another. "You were so funny and nice to everyone and I remember talking and having a good conversations with you. Rest in paradise."

According to the N.C. Department of Correction, Smith has been convicted of misdemeanor drug possession and driving with a revoked license.

She's being held without bond in Rowan County jail, charged with murder.

No comments: