FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – The Florence County Sheriff’s Office arrested a third person in connection with a murder that occurred in early February.
Major Mike Nunn with the sheriff’s office says Debra Turner Smith was charged in connection to the murder of Malcolm Kindred “Kenny” Kemmerlin. Smith, 62, of Florence was arrested in Horry County on February 24th and is charged her with one count of accessory after the fact of a felony. According to investigators, Smith is alleged to have driven Michael Joe Smith, who has been charged with Kemmerlin’s murder, away from Florence County thereby aiding him in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
Nunn says the third suspect is in custody with the murder of Malcolm Kindred “Kenny” Kemmerlin. Nunn was not able to say what charges the third suspect will face, but noted that more information will be released Friday afternoon.
The arrest comes just one day after several units took the second suspect into custody. Nunn says deputies were assisted by FCSO SWAT, the FCSO helicopter, K9 tracking team, and the U.S. Marshals Services to execute a search warrant and arrest warrant at a home on Liberty Chapel Road in Florence Thursday morning. Rasheem Kevin Thomas was wanted for the Feb. 2 murder of Kemmerlin on Francis Marion Road, adds Nunn.
Thomas was taken into custody without and issue. He is charged with murder and accessory before the fact of a felony. A second man, Michael Jow Smith, had already been arrested in connection with the killing. Investigators say Thomas was with Smith when the victim was killed, and that Thomas provided Smith with the gun used in the murder.
The investigation continues and more charges are possible, according to Nunn.
Thomas was booked into the Florence County Detention Center at 7:01 a.m. Thursday. He will remain behind bars until he has a bond hearing before a circuit court judge.
