Samantha Shea McCarty was a 25-year-old mother from McComb, Mississippi, who devoted her life to her three young daughters, Jaycee, Kaylee, and Remi. Born on November 19, 1990, in Waynesboro, Mississippi, to Sam McCarty and Rhonda Nichelson Scoggins, Samantha was part of a large, blended family with many brothers and sisters. Her life, which revolved around her children, was violently and tragically ended, leaving a void in the lives of all who knew her. In the wake of her death, family and friends organized a fundraiser for the benefit of her three girls, a reflection of the deep connections she had forged in her community.
The afternoon of Thursday, April 14, 2016, shattered the peace of a home on McComb-Holmesville Road in Pike County. Around 2 p.m., the Pike County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call reporting that a woman had been shot. When deputies arrived, they found Samantha McCarty inside the residence, deceased from a gunshot wound to the head.
The most harrowing detail was the presence of her three daughters, who had witnessed the act of violence but were physically unharmed. The children were immediately taken into the care of the Department of Human Services.
Investigators quickly zeroed in on a suspect: George William Smith, then 26, who was described as Samantha’s boyfriend, estranged husband, and the father of at least one of her children. In a chilling twist, authorities reported that the 911 call that brought them to the scene had been placed by Smith himself. After making the call, Smith fled the area, prompting law enforcement to secure a warrant for his arrest and launch a search. Pike County Sheriff Kenny Cotton stated, "We secured and worked the scene and got a warrant for him because we believe that he did it."
The manhunt for George Smith was brief. Later that same evening, the Pike County Sheriff's Department received a tip that Smith was likely at a residence in the Oakvale community in the neighboring Lawrence County. The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department was alerted, and an auxiliary deputy spotted Smith’s vehicle at the location. Deputies moved in and apprehended Smith without incident. He and his vehicle were transported back to Pike County that night, where he was booked into the local jail. Sheriff Cotton publicly extended his gratitude to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department for their critical assistance in the swift capture.
Initially, George Smith was charged with murder, and his bond was set at $300,000. He was also charged with two counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. The case proceeded through the Pike County court system. Though he was indicted for first-degree murder, Smith ultimately avoided a trial by accepting a plea deal.
In January 2018, nearly two years after Samantha’s death, George William Smith, then 28, appeared in Pike County Circuit Court. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter for killing Samantha. In addition, he pleaded guilty to two counts of felony child endangerment for committing the crime in front of her children. A judge sentenced him to the maximum penalty for each charge: 20 years for manslaughter and five years for each count of child endangerment. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. As of early 2018, the case is closed, with Smith serving his sentence.
