Arelius Jermon Smith, a 23-year-old Black male with aspirations of a music career, was tragically killed on October 10, 2015, in Omaha, Nebraska. Known to some as "Skrill" or "Relis," he was on a road trip from his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Las Vegas to sign a music contract. The journey took a fateful detour to Omaha, where his friend and traveling companion, Malquan King, planned to visit his girlfriend, Tommynique Valentine.
In the early morning hours, at approximately 2:11
a.m., Omaha police were dispatched to a residence at 4511 Curtis Avenue following a report of a shooting. Upon entering the home, officers discovered a grim scene. Arelius Smith was found on the couch, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds. His friend, Malquan King, was also found deceased in a bedroom closet. Tommynique Valentine had been shot in the leg but survived the attack. Miraculously, six children present in another bedroom were unharmed.
The investigation quickly identified the third person who had been traveling with Smith and King as the primary suspect: Michael A. Nolt, who was 53 years old at the time. The motive for the killings appeared to be robbery, as it was alleged that Nolt intended to steal a significant amount of cash that Arelius was carrying for his trip. Following the shooting, Nolt fled the scene in the white Chevrolet Impala that the group had rented for their cross-country journey.
Law enforcement utilized cell phone data and GPS information to track Nolt's movements after he fled Omaha. His attempt to escape justice was short-lived. Three days later, on October 13, 2015, U.S. Marshals apprehended Michael Nolt in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a. 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, which was consistent with the caliber of the weapon used in the murders.
In late October 2016, Michael A. Nolt was convicted for his crimes. A jury found him guilty of first-degree murder for the death of Malquan King and manslaughter for the killing of Arelius Smith. His convictions also included two counts of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony and one count of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. For these offenses, Nolt was sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 126 to 140 years, ensuring he would spend the remainder of his life incarcerated.
