MEMPHIS – A 25-year-old Mississippi woman pled guilty Monday to her role in the robbery and murder of a Memphis minister two years ago, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Lashonda Williams was sentenced to 15 years in prison for facilitation to commit first-degree murder in the death of Don A. Smith, 27, a pastor at Prospect Park Missionary Baptist Church.
Williams testified last month in the Criminal Court trial of her codefendant and boyfriend, Roger Reed Jr., who was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Reed, 25, also was convicted of especially aggravated robbery and will be sentenced Sept. 22.
Smith was found shot to death on Nov. 1, 2014, in a wooded area in the 3800 block of Lichterman Road in southeast Memphis.
Investigators said Reed and Williams, both of Greenville, Miss., got into Smith’s car after an agreement was reached for a sexual transaction, but that Reed then shot Smith in the head and took his watch and $40.
After dumping the victim’s body in the woods, the pair drove to Greenville where they were arrested four days later still driving the pastor’s 2010 white Buick LaCrosse.
The case was handled by Asst. Dist. Attys. Glen Baity and Sam Winnig.
