| For Immediate Release Case #
April 4, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN CHARGED WITH 1992 BEATING-MURDER OF LIVE-IN GIRLFRIEND AFTER BEING LINKED THROUGH DNA
SANTA ANA – A man has been charged with the beating-murder of his live-in girlfriend in 1992 after being linked to the crime through DNA. Lawrence Jerome Smith, 49, formerly of Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of murder and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. The People will be requesting Smith be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today, Monday, April 4, 2011, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
On Sept. 21, 1992, Smith is accused of physically beating his live-in girlfriend, Rosalyn Hamilton, rendering her unconscious. The defendant is accused of then driving the victim to La Palma hospital and claiming to have found her non-responsive with no knowledge of how she had been injured. When informed by hospital staff that the victim’s injuries were consistent with being beaten, Smith is accused of fleeing the scene. Hamilton died at the hospital as a result of her injuries.
Smith was a suspect in the 1992 murder investigation, but there was insufficient evidence to prove a case against him at that time.
The Anaheim Police Department, who investigated this case, began re-investigating this case and linked Smith to the murder using DNA technology not available at the time of the murder. Smith is accused of having blood and DNA from the victim on his clothing.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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