The suspect in the murder of a New Mexico State Police officer has been identified as Jaremy Smith of Marion County, South Carolina, and he has been linked to a South Carolina woman who was found dead Friday, according to police.
In this previous booking photo released by the New Mexico State Police, Jaremy Smith is shown.
New Mexico State Police
Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina first responder, was found dead after she had been reported missing by family on Thursday. The New Mexico suspect was driving her car when the trooper was murdered, according to South Carolina’s Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Warrants have been issued for Smith in the murder of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare. Hare was fatally shot after responding to a call early Friday on Interstate 40, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare is seen in this photo.
New Mexico State Police
Machado-Fore’s body was found outside of Lake View in Dillon County. An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday.
The link was made when New Mexico State Police called South Carolina’s Marion County Sheriff’s Office on Friday to inform them that Machado-Fore’s car was involved in the murder of one of their officers.
First responders are shown at the scene where Phonesia Machado-Fore’s body was found in Dillon County, South Carolina, on March 16, 2024.
WPDE
Federal, state and local authorities worked together to identify the driver and find Machado-Fore, ultimately finding her body in the course of their investigation.
The identity of the suspect involved in the shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer has been revealed, and it has been discovered that he is connected to a deceased woman from South Carolina. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Robert Benjamin Nelson, has been linked to the death of 37-year-old Jennifer L. Lannon, whose body was found in a shallow grave in New Mexico.
The tragic incident began when Officer Darian Jarrott initiated a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet pickup truck on Interstate 10 near mile marker 101 on February 4th. During the stop, Officer Jarrott was shot multiple times by Nelson, who then fled the scene in the truck. Officer Jarrott was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a wife and three children.
Following the shooting, a multi-agency manhunt was launched to apprehend Nelson, who was considered armed and dangerous. He was eventually located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he engaged in a standoff with law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.
Further investigation into Nelson’s background revealed his connection to Jennifer Lannon, whose body was discovered along with three other bodies in a vehicle in Albuquerque. The other victims have been identified as Matthew Miller, Jesten Mata, and Randal Apostalon. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are still under investigation.
Authorities have not released any information regarding the motive behind the shootings or the relationship between Nelson and the victims. However, it is clear that this is a complex and tragic case that has left multiple families devastated.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the senseless violence that has taken the life of a dedicated police officer and multiple individuals. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Officer Jarrott and the other victims as they navigate this difficult time.
