A Maryland woman whose death last year was blamed on an attack by a panhandler was actually killed by her husband and his adult daughter, police said Sunday.
Keith Smith, 52, had told police that his wife, Jacquelyn, an engineer from Harford County, was trying to give money to a panhandler at a traffic light when she was robbed and fatally stabbed.
Her death attracted national attention and prompted many to regard panhandlers warily.
Keith Smith, 52, and his daughter, Valeria Smith, 28, right, were arrested by Texas State Police near the U.S.-Mexico border while trying to flee the country
The husband, left, and stepdaughter, right, of woman they claimed was killed by a panhandler Jacquelyn Smith, center, were arrested on murder charges in connection with her death
Even Oprah Winfrey, whose early career included several years covering Baltimore news, commented that she would 'think twice' about giving to panhandlers after reading about Jacquelyn's death.
In the days after Smith's killing, some of Baltimore's homeless said they noticed a decrease in the number of people willing to roll down their windows and help.
But at a news conference on Sunday, Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said the panhandler story is not true.
'The information and evidence points it wasn't a panhandler,' Harrison said. 'People take advantage of Baltimore. We want to make sure the truth comes out and justice is done.'
After the December killing, Keith Smith, right told authorities that his wife, Jacquelyn, left, was knifed to death after she tried to give money to a young woman with an infant
He announced first-degree murder charges against Keith Smith and his daughter, Valeria Smith, 28.
Both were arrested in Harlingen, Texas, near the Mexico border. Harrison said the two were preparing to leave the country.
Harrison did not explain at the brief news conference what specific roles police attribute to Keith and Valeria Smith, nor did he articulate a possible motive.
He said at the news conference that the concocted story took advantage of negative perceptions of Baltimore crime and credited detectives for their work in solving the crime. Smith's death was one of more than 300 in Baltimore
