By Paul Alongi STAFF WRITER Greenville News
GREENVILLE (Greenville Online, AP) -- South Carolina authorities have charged the mother of a 7-year-old with murder in the death of her son nearly three months after the woman claimed a carjacker was the killer.
Amanda Reagan Smith has been charged with murder in the August death of Devon Chad Epps, according to a warrant from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies announced the charge Monday in front of the Law Enforcement Center after an investigation that spanned nearly three months.
In the beginning of the investigation, Smith told deputies that a man with a knife got into the passenger side of her 2000 Honda Civic when she stopped on an Interstate 85 frontage road between late Aug. 12, said Master Deputy Michael Hildebrand.
According to Smith, the man demanded she drive to a nearby wooded area on Jacobs Road and then get out of the car, Hildebrand said. Smith told deputies the man locked himself inside and put a pillow over the boy's face, Hildebrand said. Advertisement
The Welcome Elementary student died of asphyxia due to neck compression on Aug. 12, said Greenville County deputy coroner Karie Cain.
As many as eight investigators worked on the case for weeks, as dozens of tips flowed into the sheriff's office without an arrest.
Smith provided a suspect description that was turned into a sketch and circulated in the White Horse Road area, which is near the frontage road. Investigators checked into reports that the drawing matched a homeless man seen in the area.
For weeks, deputies said they had a single eyewitness: Smith.
AP contributed to this story
11/6/2007 11:30:05 AM
