Prosecutors have decided not to pursue a murder case against 28-year-old Valeria Smith who has been accused of fatally stabbing her stepmother.
What We Know:
- Valeria and her father Keith Smith, were charged in March for the killing of her 54-year-old stepmother, Jacquelyn Smith. They told investigators that Jacquelyn was stabbed by a panhandler after giving them money.
- Investigators examined footage from 27 surveillance cameras and found no evidence to back up their story. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison confirmed the story wasn’t true.
- According to defense attorney Brandon Mead, Valeria will instead be charged as an accessory of the crime.
- The duo were planning to flee the country but were arrested in Harlingen, Texas, near the Mexico border.
Keith remains charged with his wife’s murder. Both father and daughter are currently in jail and awaiting trial.
