MARION, S.C. (WBTW) — In an exclusive interview with News13, one of Phonesia Machado-Fore’s daughters expressed her anticipation for the day that her mother’s alleged murderer, Jaremy Smith, faces justice in South Carolina.
Last week, Smith was sentenced in New Mexico to life in federal prison without parole for killing New Mexico state trooper Justin Hare.
In March 2024, Machado-Fore, a dedicated paramedic in the Pee Dee area, was reported missing and later found deceased in Dillon County. Authorities claim Smith drove her BMW across several states to New Mexico, where he subsequently ended Hare’s life.
Machado-Fore’s daughter Faith Fore says for a full year she’s been left with many questions but not a whole lot of answers.
“I lost my mom,” she shared. “She didn’t get to see me walk across the stage at graduation. She can’t help or guide me through life anymore. I’m just 19 and feel completely lost. I have no idea what steps to take next.”
Fore, who lives in Marion, remembers her mom as opinionated, yet incredibly dedicated to saving lives.
Her world came to a stop on March 16, 2024, when her mom was reported missing, then found dead two days later. According to officials, a gunshot wound to the back of her head, execution style.
Jaremy Smith faces 17 state charges related to the killing of Machado-Fore.
Fore says she hasn’t received any answers from officials since January. In fact, she never knew Smith was going to be sentenced in New Mexico, until she saw it online after.
“She was a human at the end of the day, and she did the same job y’all do,” she said. “And I wish y’all cared a little bit more just as y’all care for Mr. Justin that lost his life as well.”
Fore feels like more investigating still needs to be done into who was involved besides Smith, the motive and if it was planned or not.
She says she’s glad Hare’s family can find some sort of peace knowing he’ll be in prison for the rest of his life.
She says she wants the same for her mom, while she deals with the grief and loss at such a young age trying to keep her mom’s name alive.
“Nobody cares like I do,” she said. “And I can’t do anything. Nothing but talk and talk and talk and try to get her name out there. Try to let people know that my baby was still a human at the end of the day, and they took her from me in the worst way possible. Ya’ll left her abandoned to rot. How could somebody do that to another human being?”
Fore says while she’s not here physically, she knows her mom is still with her every day guiding her. And finds peace knowing she’s happy somewhere else.
“Lord knows she would be so proud of me right now,” she said “But she’s with me, I miss her words, miss arguing with her, miss hugging her, miss her forcing her to hug me. I miss it all.”
News13 reached out to 12th circuit solicitor Ed Clements multiple times since last week for a sit-down interview or statement to ask when Smith could be brought back to South Carolina. Clements said Sunday he’d be available later this week.
Count on News13 for updates on-air and online.
