Maya Smith, a 24-year-old resident of Joliet, Illinois, was found shot to death in her car early Sunday morning, January 8, 2023. The incident occurred in an alley west of the 1200 block of Clement Street in Joliet. Police responded to a call about a suspiciously parked silver Nissan Rogue and discovered Smith in the front seat with multiple gunshot wounds to her abdomen and head.
Her 2-year-old daughter was found unharmed in the backseat, tucked between the rear driver’s side door and the rear seat.
Smith was described by her friends and family as a vibrant, kind, and generous person who was a loving mother. She had a job in customer service at a bank in Joliet and was also taking classes to work towards becoming a nurse. Smith was known for her ambition, planning to start her own business one day, and was very protective of her daughter, being very selective about who could care for her.
The investigation led to the arrest of Jermaine Mandley, a 48-year-old man from Bolingbrook, Illinois. Mandley was taken into custody on the southeast side of Chicago on January 10, 2023, and was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. A Will County judge set his bond at $5 million. Mandley was being held in the Will County Adult Detention Facility.
It was revealed during the investigation that Mandley had been in a relationship with Smith, and text messages on Smith’s phone indicated that she had agreed to meet him on the night of January 7, 2023. Mandley did not show up for work the following day, which led to his eventual location and arrest in Chicago.
On August 17, 2023, a jury found Jermaine Mandley guilty on all three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of endangering the life or health of a child. The trial, which began earlier that week, concluded with Mandley being held accountable for the heinous crime.
Maya Smith's family and community were deeply affected by her death, with her aunt, Bonnie Winfrey, expressing the family's grief and gratitude towards the police for apprehending the suspect. Funeral services for Smith were held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, followed by interment at Elmhurst Cemetery.
