Kissing-Killer Couple Posts Selfies Inside Murdered Pastor's Car; Police Arrest Suspects

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Two suspects who were recently arrested in relation to the murder of Memphis, Tennessee, pastor Don Smith took selfies while joyriding in his stolen 2010 Buick Lacrosse.

Lashonda Williams, 24, and Roger Reed Jr., 23, were arrested on Nov. 5 in Greenville, 150 miles south of Memphis, for allegedly committing first-degree murder and aggravated robbery, according to Fox 13.

Smith, 57, was the pastor of Prospect Park Baptist Church in the Whitehaven area of Memphis, and was found murdered on Nov 1, where his body was discovered by two men walking their dogs. Police and paramedics were dispatched to the scene but Smith was already dead. The Shelby County Medical Examiner's office said he was killed from a gunshot wound.

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Several pictures of the couple inside Smith's car surfaced on Facebook, which police described as disturbing due to their celebratory nature after allegedly committing first-degree murder.

"It just shows how egregious this crime is, you know, that some people, their conscience doesn't bother them," said Greenville Assistant Chief of Police Delando Wilson. "They have been suspected of a heinous crime. To joyride in the victim's vehicle is pretty heartless."

While police confirmed that several photos were taken inside the pastor's stolen car, they noted that one of the selfies shows the alleged criminals kissing. Some of the photos were taken on Nov. 2, just one day after Smith's body was found near a pond in Hickory Hill.

"Last Wednesday patrol cars found the car and attempted to stop the vehicle," Wilson added. "They refused to stop [and] at some point the suspects abandoned the vehicle."

Williams and Reed are being held on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and the city of Memphis has also issued a homicide warrant for both suspects. The couple has agreed to be extradited back to Memphis, according to police.

Smith's family members said they did not recognize the couple.

"The only thing I can see is my daddy trying to help someone in the middle of the night which is something he would do," said Whitney Smith, the late-pastor's daughter. "The kind of person he was, people might have thought he was naïve because [he] helps everyone even if he shouldn't."