In the small town of Emmet, Arkansas, the evening of October 11, 2017, was shattered by violence that ended the life of 38-year-old Lucia 'Lucy' Mendez Smith. A female resident of the community, Smith was discovered deceased inside her home on Nevada 55 after law enforcement responded to calls about a shooting late that Wednesday night. Born in Mexico on August 3, 1979, she worked as a housekeeper at a Best Western in the nearby city of Hope and was a mother.
The investigation into her
death quickly focused on a single individual. Witnesses at the scene identified 21-year-old George Hayden Tong of Fulton, Arkansas, as the person responsible for the shooting. This information sparked a coordinated effort among multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, Nevada County authorities, the Hope Police Department, and the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department. Their collaboration led them to a motel in Texarkana, where Tong was located and arrested shortly after the incident.
Following his apprehension, George Hayden Tong was transported to Nevada County to face legal proceedings. He was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Lucia Smith's death. The community mourned the loss of Smith, who was remembered fondly by her family and friends. Her funeral services were held at Calvary Baptist Church, and she was laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Hope.
