Missing mom’s loved ones hope she won’t be ‘another statistic’
JACKSON, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The family of an Aiken County missing woman has increased the reward to $10,000 for information about her case.
Last week, Jamilla Smith’s family had offered $5,000, but her father held a news conference Monday where he said the reward had been increased.
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The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office says it’s following up on every lead to find out what happened to “Millie” Smith, whose family hasn’t heard from her since Dec. 2.
Daniel Harmon was arrested and charged with kidnapping her, but she hasn’t been found.
It’s the unknown that hurting Smith’s family, friends and children the most – especially before the holidays
“They are scared, confused, worried and heartbroken,” said Kimberly Kite, investigative researcher. “These feelings and emotions are unlike any they’ve ever experienced. They deserve the answers.”
Some of Smith’s family think the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office isn’t doing enough to find her.
Capt. Eric Abdullah from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office says the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is involved and that searches have taken place, including one Monday.
“We all have one ultimate goal, and that is to find Jamilla,” Abdullah said. “Once we find her, then things can progress.”
Still, family and friends are hoping for answers soon.
“We don’t want Jamilla to become another statistic,” family friend Vanessa Williams said. “She has family who loves her, children who love her, and that’s why we’re here today. We don’t want to be swept under the rug.”
Some of Smith’s family have taken matters into their own hands by conducting their own searches.
“Millie, if you’re still there, if you can still do whatever you can, just know that we’re not going to stop,” Williams said.
“We’re not going to stop, and we’re going to keep pressing and keep pressing and keep pressing. until we get answers – until we get what we need to get to get closure,” she said.
Smith’s last known location was her house at 425 Old Jackson Highway on the night of Dec. 2. She called 911 and said she was running from a man she described as her ex. The phone went dead but not before a male voice is heard yelling at her to get in the car, followed by a horn blaring.
Smith had been with Harmon earlier that day, driving to Columbia. She was in with her family during the drive, telling them she’d argued with Harmon.
By the night of Dec. 4, authorities had issued a missing-person alert about Smith, saying she was thought to be with Harmon in a black Charger.
Harmon was arrested after the Charger was seen at a home in North Augusta in the 400 block of Carpenterville Road. Deputies converged on the home, bringing in the SWAT team as a precaution, and Harmon was taken into custody after a tense hour.
But Smith wasn’t at the house.
Harmon was initially arrested on a warrant for domestic abuse, but a kidnapping charge was soon added.
He was denied bond.
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