HEATHSVILLE—It has been 22 months since the abduction and murder of Ahrea’l La’Shae Smith, 28, and her family and loved ones finally may have a bit of closure. Tyrone Noel Samuel, 52, pleaded guilty to charges related to her death and will sit behind bars for 27 years following a Monday, October 23, court appearance.
Smith had disappeared from the Little Sue convenience store in Claraville after her shift around 9:20 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. By Saturday, January 15, Samuel was charged with her abduction and would later be charged with her murder.
During the October 23 plea and sentencing hearing, Northumberland County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jane Wrightson provided presiding Circuit Court Judge David F. Pugh a summary of evidence regarding Smith’s disappearance andmurders.
According to Wrightson, at approximately 5 a.m. on January 13, 2022, the Northumberland County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) was dispatched to the convenience store following a 911 phone call made by another store employee. The employee had arrived to open the store for the day to find Smith’s vehicle running.
Surveillance camera footage showed….
