In the early morning hours of April 18, 2019, a 911 call from a residence on North Pearl Street in Tacoma, Washington, reported an attempted suicide. Responding officers discovered 31-year-old Joshua Everman, a Caucasian male, in bed with a gunshot wound to his head. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. At the scene, Everman's fiancée, Nina Joy Smith, initially told investigators that he had shot himself during an argument they were having over a gun.
Smith claimed that Everman shot himself after she left the room to tend to their 4-month-old baby, who was in a crib in the same bedroom. Another 4-year-old child was also present in the apartment at the time.
However, detectives soon found inconsistencies in Smith's account of the events. They noted that Everman, who was right-handed, had been shot on the left side of his head. Forensic analysis further revealed that the gun was fired from at least a foot away, which was inconsistent with a self-inflicted wound. Investigators also discovered that two other shots had been fired in the room, and there were indications of a struggle. Smith was found to have blood on her hands. This evidence led investigators to believe that Joshua Everman’s death was not a suicide but a homicide.
Further investigation into the couple's relationship revealed a history of domestic violence. Court records showed that Nina Smith had a prior charge of fourth-degree assault against Everman from an incident that occurred in March 2019. A no-contact order had been issued but was rescinded just a week before Everman's death. Friends of Everman later provided statements expressing their concerns about the toxic nature of his relationship with Smith, citing her anger issues and their frequent drinking. Two months before his death, Everman and Smith had been planning to get married.
Nina Joy Smith, then 31, was arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of her fiancé, Joshua Everman. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment, and her bail was set at $1 million. On July 10, 2020, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was subsequently sentenced to 17 years in prison for the death of Joshua Everman. In a letter to the court, Smith expressed remorse for her actions and the pain she had caused.
