In an unsettling development in North Carolina, a 19-year-old freshman studying elementary education at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) was found dead under unusual circumstances.
It was a tow truck worker who found Amarriah Smith’s body in the trunk of a car. The car, owned by 29-year-old Jordan Isaiah Thomas, had been towed from Tyco Crushing’s parking lot in Washington, North Carolina, around 100 miles east of Raleigh.
Investigators surmise that Smith was murdered elsewhere, as evidence related to the crime was found at Thomas’s home. Thomas is believed to have driven the car to the parking lot and subsequently stolen a nearby truck. He was later apprehended at a local hospital.
Thomas now faces several charges, including motor vehicle theft, murder, and concealing a person’s death. He was officially charged with Smith’s murder on Monday, January 22, 2024, five days after the discovery of her body.
Smith, often called “Mari” by those close to her, had a dream of becoming an elementary school teacher, a dream that has been tragically ended.
Further investigation is required to determine the cause of Smith’s death and her relationship with Thomas, though it has been established that they were known to each other.
Interestingly, Smith had posted a reflective message on Facebook just days before her death, indicating a period of self-examination of her life decisions.
ECSU, deeply affected by the tragic event, expressed heartfelt condolences. ECSU Chancellor Dr. Karrie Dixon released a statement acknowledging the profound impact of Smith’s premature death on the university, extending sympathies to her family and friends. The university community is united in its grief over the loss of one of their own.
Thomas remains in custody at the Chowan County Detention Center in North Carolina, with no bond granted.
