Police Arrest Murder Suspect
By: Brittney Johnson
Updated: August 3, 2009
Bonnie Evans says she was shocked and upset at the sudden death of her longtime neighbor Paul Smith.
Bonnie Evans said, "Real nice guy, real nice. He'd give you the shirt off his back. He'd help anybody."
She says she was outside for hours when police found the 43-year-old's body in his trailer home Sunday night. She heard he died of a heart attack.
Evans said, "There was an ambulance and two fire department vehicles and I thought oh, this is not a heart attack."
Investigators agree. They found evidence that Smith's roommate, 32-year-old Tommy Jarrell, may have killed him. Neighbors say Smith was helping Jarrell by giving him a place to stay.
In a statement mentioned in the police affidavit, Jarrell claims that he injected Smith with the prescription pain medication Oxycodone and that Smith also injected himself with the drug. After that, it says Smith passed out. This police affidavit says the suspect told police he collected drugs and needles, drove here to Lea Joyner bridge and threw them in the river.
Police arrested Jarrell and charged him with first degree murder. Investigators say they haven't decided if they're going to search the river for more evidence. They say they have enough to move forward with the first degree murder charge.
Evans says she's trying to move on although she is shaken up by the suspicious death.
Evans said, "I don't feel safe knowing there is somebody in the park who could have done this. Made me kind of leery. It's hard to trust people these days, it really is."
Bonnie Evans said, "Real nice guy, real nice. He'd give you the shirt off his back. He'd help anybody."
She says she was outside for hours when police found the 43-year-old's body in his trailer home Sunday night. She heard he died of a heart attack.
Evans said, "There was an ambulance and two fire department vehicles and I thought oh, this is not a heart attack."
Investigators agree. They found evidence that Smith's roommate, 32-year-old Tommy Jarrell, may have killed him. Neighbors say Smith was helping Jarrell by giving him a place to stay.
In a statement mentioned in the police affidavit, Jarrell claims that he injected Smith with the prescription pain medication Oxycodone and that Smith also injected himself with the drug. After that, it says Smith passed out. This police affidavit says the suspect told police he collected drugs and needles, drove here to Lea Joyner bridge and threw them in the river.
Police arrested Jarrell and charged him with first degree murder. Investigators say they haven't decided if they're going to search the river for more evidence. They say they have enough to move forward with the first degree murder charge.
Evans says she's trying to move on although she is shaken up by the suspicious death.
Evans said, "I don't feel safe knowing there is somebody in the park who could have done this. Made me kind of leery. It's hard to trust people these days, it really is."
