South Carolina – A South Carolina man will spend decades in prison after admitting to chasing down his ex-girlfriend and killing her while she was on the phone with 911 dispatchers asking for help.
The case unfolded across several hours and ended with a fatal encounter that authorities say was captured in real time by emergency operators.
Earlier this month, 36-year-old Daniel Harmon pleaded guilty to one count of murder and one count of kidnapping. A judge sentenced Harmon to 45 years in prison for murder and an additional 30 years for kidnapping. The sentences will run consecutively, meaning he will serve them back-to-back.
The crime dates back to Dec. 2, 2023. Earlier that day, Jamilla Smith, 30, contacted 911 to report a domestic violence incident involving Harmon along Interstate 20. That call ended without an arrest, but the situation escalated later that night.
Just after 8:30 p.m., Smith called 911 again, telling dispatchers that Harmon had broken into her home and was chasing her down the road. According to a criminal complaint affidavit obtained by a Georgia television station, dispatchers could hear a car engine revving in the background, followed by Smith screaming.
During the call, Smith dropped her phone as chaos unfolded. Dispatchers heard a man telling her to get into his car so he could take her to the emergency room. Smith repeatedly refused. Moments later, she exclaimed that she had been run over by his vehicle and said she was in pain before the call abruptly ended.
Smith never reached an emergency room. Harmon was arrested three days later after investigators tracked a Dodge Charger that had been rented to him. Authorities said they found Smith’s blood in the trunk of the vehicle, but she was not there. For months, her whereabouts remained unknown.
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In May 2024, Smith’s remains were discovered in a wooded area near the 2100 block of Silver Bluff Road in Aiken County in South Carolina. An autopsy later determined she died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Smith left behind a large, grieving family, including two children. Several relatives addressed the court during Harmon’s sentencing hearing, describing the lasting impact of her death.
“It still hurts, but I’m relieved that it’s finally come to an end,” Smith’s grandmother said, according to reports from local media. “We’ve been suffering for over two years, so I’m glad that this decision was finally made today.”
Smith’s mother said she welcomed the conclusion of the case but questioned whether the punishment truly reflected the loss. “I am happy that the deal did go through,” she said. “But, I don’t know — it still doesn’t feel enough — not enough for her life.”
Harmon also spoke during the hearing, offering an apology to the family.
“I deep down apologize to all six, seven family members or families that have been hurt from this,” he said. “If y’all can, I just ask that y’all forgive me in Jesus name, amen.”
Smith’s mother rejected the apology. “He doesn’t seem remorseful,” she said. “He tried to say sorry, but his actions don’t say sorry. It shattered our lives.”
