Aveonnah Rene Moore, 19, was found dead on May 9, 2026, on the side of a rural road near Hardeeville, South Carolina. Her family described her as adventurous with a captivating smile; her mother called her sweet and kind-hearted. A passerby reported a fire that led to the discovery. An autopsy determined she had been fatally shot and her body was partially burned afterward.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, with FBI assistance, opened an investigation into the apparent homicide. Authorities arrested and charged 52-year-old Donald Smith Jr., of Savannah, Georgia; he is being held at the Jasper County Detention Center.

If anyone knew Aveonnah, saw activity on that rural road on May 9, 2026, or has information about the case, please come forward to assist the investigation.