Zachary Edwards told St. Lucie County sheriff’s investigators he and another person had been on a “crack binge” before he stabbed Carl Smith in the neck and back as Smith “begged for his life.”
Edwards, 30, said he and at least one other person walked to Smith’s camp, and he’d already decided to kill Smith, 63, before going there.
The details came in a recently-released arrest affidavit for Edwards, jailed May 30 on charges of murder and fraudulent use/possession of another person’s identification, after the death of Smith, who was homeless and living in a camp off Rolyat Street near Jenkins and Okeechobee roads.
Decomposed remains determined to be Smith were reported found May 25 by people who said they came to visit Smith, who was living in the wooded area.
One person said Smith “was not in good standing with some of the other homeless population,” an affidavit states. One person last reported seeing Smith May 22, drunk and upset. Smith’s life reportedly was being threatened by Edwards.
Medical examiner’s officials May 26 reported finding about 18 stab wounds on Smith’s body.
Investigators learned Edwards, whose listed address is in Port St. Lucie, and Smith had an ongoing problem that led to altercations, the affidavit shows.
In an interview with investigators May 28, Edwards described Smith as “like a father figure to him.”
Asked whether Smith had problems with anyone, Edwards said a woman accused Smith of stealing her phone and she was upset. Ultimately, Edwards got aggravated and left after detectives reportedly pointed out what they said were inconsistencies.
Investigators spoke to a woman who said she’d known Edwards since January, though said she feared him and that she’d made him mad.
She said on May 15 Edwards took a knife from her, saying she didn’t need it. The woman said she’d panhandle for money but Edwards wouldn’t help.
The woman said she and Edwards walked to Smith’s camp, but Edwards had her wait at the front of the site as he went to Smith’s tent.
They walked away, she said, and she noticed Edwards had cut his finger and had blood all over his clothes.
“I asked why Zachary would tell us that she was the one who stabbed Carl and that she could do this,” the affidavit states. “(Redacted) never answered the question.”
During an interview with Edwards beginning late May 29, Edwards reportedly gave a “detailed account of Carl Smith’s murder.”
He said he and another person were on a “crack binge together.” They walked from the area of Avenue D to Smith’s camp.
“Edwards stated he had already decided he was going to kill Carl before going there, and it was (redacted’s) idea,” an affidavit states.
Edwards said he went in the tent, stabbing Smith a number of times as the latter “begged for his life.”
Edwards told investigators he “grabbed Carl by the neck and picked him up to make sure Carl was dead.”
It wasn’t immediately clear whether sheriff’s officials are investigating anyone else in connection with the homicide.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Homicide victim ‘begged for his life’; new details in Florida slaying
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
