Timeline: What’s happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore
MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Following is a timeline of News13 coverage of the disappearance and death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore and the arrest of Jaremy Smith, a Marion County man identified as a person of interest in her death and a suspect in the killing of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare.
March 15: 52-year-old paramedic reported missing in Marion County
Machado-Fore, 52, is reported missing by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. A paramedic with Florence County EMS and Marion County EMS, she was last seen on March 12 at her home in Marion.
March 15: Suspect in killing of New Mexico officer also person of interest in Pee Dee paramedic’s death, authorities say
Authorities find the body of Machado-Fore on the night of March 15 outside of Lake View in Dillon County. Marion County authorities identify Smith, 32, as a person of interest in the death of the Pee Dee Dee paramedic. The New Mexico State Police also says Smith ambushed and killed Officer Justin Hare, 35, early Friday morning along Interstate 40. Reaction begins pouring in from Pee Dee authorities.
March 16: ‘We will find you:’ Marion County man target of sweeping New Mexico manhunt after officer’s death
A manhunt continues in New Mexico for Smith after he is accused of shooting and killing Officer Hare in the early morning hours of March 15. The New Mexico State Police says Smith, who has ties to the Albuquerque area, was driving Machado-Fore’s white BMW when he shot Hare, who had stopped to help him with a flat tire.
After the shooting, police said Smith stole Hare’s patrol car and crashed it about 14 miles away near mile marker 304 on Interstate 40. Hare’s body was found at mile marker 312. He was taken to a nearby hospital and died from gunshot wounds at 7:12 a.m. on March 15.
MARCH 16: Tributes pour in for Pee Dee paramedic after body is found in Dillon County
First responders across the Pee Dee remember Machado-Fore as a lifesaver, listener and beacon of calm for strangers dealing with some of the most upsetting moments they’ll ever experience. Fore began working for Florence County EMS in 2017, and the agency said she was a loving mother and grandmother who loved making people feel better.
March 17: Suspect in killing of NM police officer, Marion County paramedic arrested, deputies say
Smith is arrested by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest came after a deputy-involved shooting in Albuquerque.
March 17: Marion man wanted in New Mexico police killing shot by deputies during pursuit
Smith is shot by Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood before his arrest on Sunday. He was hit multiple times and is under guard at an area hospital.
New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said Smith’s arrest gives some closure to Hare’s colleagues. “Yesterday we said that we would bring Jeramy Smith to justice. There was nowhere he could run, that there was nowhere he could hide. Today, thanks to our community and our fellow law enforcement partners, we were able to do that,” Weisler said.
March 17: Marion County sheriff ‘overwhelmed with relief’ following Smith arrest
Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace said he is “overwhelmed with relief” by Smith’s arrest. “Our hearts are not only heavy for our own loss here in the Pee Dee region, but for the loss of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare,” Wallace said.
Wallace told News13 that Smith will remain in the custody of New Mexico State Police to answer charges of murder, as Marion County officials have yet to charge him.
March 18: Marion County man accused in New Mexico officer’s killing arrested at least a dozen times in South Carolina since 2007
Smith remained in a New Mexico hospital Monday morning, according to Nexstar affiliate KRQE. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said Sunday that Smith was hit multiple times during his capture and was under guard at an area hospital as he recovers before answering on charges including first-degree murder. Because of his injuries, it’s unclear when Smith could make a court appearance.
News13 also obtained records from the South Carolina Law Enforecment Division showing that that Smith has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina dating back 15 years and logging more than a dozen felonies.
March 18: Marion, Dillon county sheriffs open joint investigation after Pee Dee paramedic’s death
Authorities in Dillon and Marion counties are jointly investigating the death of Machado-Fore, along with federal and state authorities, according to a joint statements from Dillon County Sheriff Jamie Hamilton and Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace. An autopsy was performed on Monday that the sheriffs said “will be a crucial piece” of the investigation, though officials say it could be “several weeks” before they have the results.
March 18: Marion County EMS director remembers Phonesia Machado-Fore
Trey Cooper, Marion County’s EMS director, spoke with News13 after Machado-Fore’s killing. “Phonesia was . . . well, first off, she was just one of those, happy-go-lucky people,” he said. “She was always around, always had a smile, and just loved her job and loved people.”
* * *
Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
