Three charged in man's killing
By John Joyce
Published in News on April 9, 2015 1:46 PM
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The daughter and son-in-law of a Dudley man found in a shallow grave behind his home on Boykin Drive late Monday are now charged with his murder. A third woman is accused of being an accessory after the fact.
Initial reports following an autopsy conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh indicated Walter Lee Jordan, 59, died of a gunshot wound.
Jordan was first reported missing Feb. 27 by his daughter and was said to have been last seen alive Jan. 21. The investigation determined, however, that Jordan had been missing since mid-December, Maj. Tom Effler of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said.
Antaun Keith Smith, 24, 120 White Flash Lane, is charged with first-degree murder, financial card theft, unlawful obtaining of a credit card, obtaining property by false pretense and identity theft.
Smith was already in custody for the financial crimes and was being held under a $152,600 secured bond. He is now being held without bond on the murder charges.
Jordan's daughter, Lea Detrice Monroe Smith, 24, who married Smith sometime while the investigation was being conducted, is also charged with first-degree murder. Lashonna Robinson, 21, is charged with accessory after the fact of murder and is now free on a $50,000 secured bond.
"Both women have a child by Smith," Effler said. "They were both his girlfriends."
Detectives investigating the case became suspicious early on that Jordan had met with foul play, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
The investigation gained momentum in mid-March but searches of the residence turned up nothing. Then, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday, detectives and K-9 officers found what they had been searching for. Jordan's body was discovered buried in the backyard of a residence at 111 Boykin Drive, in Dudley, a home he once shared with Mrs. Smith.
Mrs. Smith and Ms. Robinson were officially charged Tuesday. Detectives then charged Smith Wednesday after he was interviewed.
Wayne County Sheriff Pierce congratulated his deputies for their hard work and offered condolences to Jordan's family.
"I wish to commend all of my detectives that were involved in this case. I am very proud of how they worked together and continuously to solve this tragic situation."