Family Members Speak About Death of Mother & Son

Teen charged in killings

Updated 3:36 PM EDT, Tue, Dec 23, 2008

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WRC

DALE CITY, Va. -- Prince William County police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection with the shooting deaths of a mother and her son Friday in their Dale City home.

Police said the 17-year-old was charged Monday with two counts of murder as well as counts of burglary, robbery and using a firearm in a felony.

Also arrested was Jacqueline Munoz, 22, who was charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact, and 19-year-old Jonathan Jackson, who was charged with obstruction of justice, accessory after the fact and concealing physical evidence of a murder. Police said that Munoz is the girlfriend of the suspect and that she lied to help him with an alibi and helped him hide evidence.

Jean Claire Smith, 39, and her son, James Marshall Smith, 19, were found fatally shot Friday at their home on Langford Court. Another of Jean Smith's sons, 16-year-old Collin, found the bodies.

Monday night Collin, along with his father and sister, spoke to a crowd of hundreds who attended a vigil at Hylton High School.

"All of us are in this together. I consider all of us here tonight family," Collin told the crowd.

"I just want to say thank you to all of you for the unbelievable outpouring of support over the last several days," Rick Smith, Jean's husband and Jim's father told the crowd.

Sarah Smith called her brother Jim, her best friend. "Jim and I were completely inseparable . . . if you've ever read Calvin & Hobbes, I was Hobbes, and Jim was Calvin," Sarah said.

Investigators said the incident started as a burglary. Investigators said Jim Smith was sleeping on the couch Friday afternoon when the suspect entered the home and shot him.

Investigators said Jean Smith then arrived home, found the suspect in the home and was shot and killed.

Police are searching an area around an ice skating rink off Dale Boulevard for physical evidence, possibly a weapon.

Police said the 17-year-old suspect lives in neighborhood and is familiar with the Smith family but was not a close friend. They said the suspect had not been to the house for a number of years.

The suspect has previous criminal convictions, police said.

Police said Jean Smith was last seen at C.D. Hylton Senior High School at about 1 p.m. Friday taking pictures of students singing Christmas carols in the school's hallways. Her body and her son's were discovered in their home two hours later.

Prince William County police urged Dale City residents to secure their properties in the wake of the double homicide in the quiet community.

Officials said they asked residents to keep their lights on in the front and back of their homes, and to call authorities if they saw or heard anything suspicious.

Hylton High School students will hold a vigil outside the school’s main entrance at 7 p.m. Monday. An impromptu vigil was held Saturday night, according to InsideNova.com.

Jean Smith was a volunteer at the school and president of the Hylton Choir Boosters.

Jim Smith graduated from the school in 2007 and also was involved in the choir program, as a Troubador -- the school’s most honored vocal ensemble group. He also wrestled for Hylton, according to InsideNova.com.

They are survived by husband and father, Richard Smith, 40, daughter Sarah Smith, 22, the 16-year-old son and another son in elementary school, according to the paper.

Anyone with information about these murders should call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 703-670-3700 or 1-866-411-TIPS.