Trial begins in Dudley murder
By Melody Brown-Peyton
Published in News on May 20, 2018 3:05 AM
Antaun Keith Smith
A Mount Olive man is on trial for the murder of his father-in-law, Walter Lee Jordan.
Antaun Keith Smith, 27, is on trial for the 2014 murder of Jordan, whose body was found buried in a shallow grave at a home in Dudley.
Wayne County Sheriff's detectives found the 59-year-old's body at a home located at 111 Boykin Drive in April of 2015.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Smith could face life in prison without parole.
Jordan was reported missing on Feb. 27, 2015, by his daughter and was said to have been last seen alive on Jan. 21, 2015.
The investigation revealed that Jordan had been missing since mid-December.
After seating a jury of 12 and two alternates, the state began to present evidence in the case this past Wednesday.
During court on Friday, one of the jurors was dismissed. Court officials would not say why the juror was dismissed.
Jordan's three sisters, Lorna Harris, Mary Bumphas and Patricia Wahley, all said that they do not understand why their brother's life was taken.
Harris said that Jordan would give anyone the shirt off his back.
"My brother being taken away from us has left a void in our family," Harris said.
Bumphas said that Jordan was the life of their family gatherings.
All three have been in court supporting each other, as they hear evidence being presented in the case.
They said a guilty verdict in this case will begin the healing process.
When Smith was arrested for first-degree murder, he was being held in the Wayne County Detention Center on charges of financial card theft, unlawful obtaining of a credit card, obtaining property by false pretense and identity theft.
Investigators said that Smith was using Jordan's credit card. Jurors were shown photos of Smith using the card at different ATMs.
During the investigation, Smith married Jordan's daughter, Lea Detrice Monroe Smith. The two have a child together.
She was also arrested in connection with the case and is charged with first-degree murder.
Also arrested in this case was Lashonna Robinson, who is charged with accessory after the fact of murder.
The trial will resume on Tuesday at 9:30.