Suspect accused of kidnapping Aiken County missing mom

JACKSON, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - An Aiken County man is being charged with kidnapping a 30-year-old mother who remains missing a day after his arrest following a raid on a North Augusta home.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that new arrest warrants had been obtained against Daniel Gabriel Harmon, 34, a day after his arrest on a charge of second-degree domestic violence.

The warrants accuse him of kidnapping Jamilla Shanae’ “Millie” Smith on Saturday, as well as injuring her by choking her on Nov. 10.

Many questions remain about Smith’s disappearance over the weekend, even as the investigation continues to unfold.

Authorities on Wednesday morning were at Smith’s last known location, her home in the 400 block of Old Jackson Highway. They were also at a second home nearby. They were carrying a white material and moved vehicles to block a reporter’s view.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Smith’s family is hoping to organize a large community-wide search for her.

The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office isn’t saying yes to that, but it’s not saying no, either.

“Every step of this investigation is dictated by the progress of the case,” sheriff’s Capt. Eric Abdullah said Thursday. “At this point, our priority is locating Jamillia  and we are not ruling out using  a search with the of the community”

What happened to Jamilla Smith?

Smith’s family was in communication with her Saturday afternoon when she and Harmon were driving to Columbia. They’d had an argument during the drive, Smith’s family told authorities, and he’d thrown her phone out the car window, but it was retrieved.

Smith and Harmon returned to the 400 block of Old Jackson Highway, around 6:30 p.m., according to an incident report from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were sent to that location after dispatchers got a call from Smith’s number at 8:48 p.m.

The female caller said her ex-boyfriend had come there and she’d run down the street to get away from him.

The caller then began to scream and the dispatcher heard a man her to get in a vehicle, followed by the sound of a car horn.

The phone went silent and the phone call ended.

The dispatcher tried to call back but there was no answer.

Deputies went to the address but weren’t able to find the caller.

Neighbors told deputies they didn’t hear or see anything, but did see a car leave about 10 minutes before deputies got there.

Deputies saw a damaged window screen at the home along with Smith’s keys on the ground nearby. There was also a shoeprint on the front door, officials said.

DEJA VU?

• This missing-person case brings to mind the one involving another Aiken County mother, still looking for answers.

Inside the home, deputies said they didn’t find any signs of a struggle or foul play.

Aiken County deputies issued a “missing endangered persons” report for Smith and Harmon shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, noting in it that Harmon “has some mental health issues and made some threats of self-harm” and that “both have a history of domestic violence incidents.”

Smith and Harmon were thought at the time to be in a black Dodge Charger, according to deputies.

Authorities are still looking for Smith, who’s 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 107 pounds. Authorities also released a photo of her.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Smith is urged to call 803-648-6811. Tipsters can also send a message at www.aikencountysheriff.net.

The arrest of Daniel Harmon

On Tuesday morning, deputies converged on a house in the 400 block of Carpenterville Road in North Augusta, where Harmon was holed up, according to Abdullah.

A tipster had reported that the black Charger was there.

As a precaution, the SWAT team was brought in.

The roughly hourlong drama had ended by 11 a.m., and Harmon was sent to a hospital for a medical evaluation after possibly ingesting medications.

After he was done at the hospital, Harmon was booked into Aiken County jail on a charge of second-degree domestic violence, then the new charges were added Wednesday.

A bond hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday.

Smith’s mother told authorities Harmon had a history of self-harm and had made statements that he’d kill Smith and himself. Harmon also has a history of physically abusing Smith, the mother told authorities.

Harmon is a man who’s had with law enforcement often. Authorities in Aiken County have seen him 36 times over at least a decade, according to records.

His charges range from traffic violations to drug possession and neglect of children.

In 2012, he shot a man but the aggravated assault charge was later reduced to reckless conduct.

In 2015, he pled guilty to simple battery family violence for pushing a woman in the forehead.

In 2016, he was the driver in a hit-and-run, spending five years on probation with a hefty fine.

Records show he’s also faced a judge in Augusta for more than 20 different charges.

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