Update: Police have made an arrest in connection with this morning's murder of Toni Smith. David Royalty has been charged with one count of murder and one count of robbery.
Investigators are releasing few details about the crime except to say Smith apparently died from multiple injuries. They also say Smith's sister was also asleep in the house when the murder occurred.
The woman whose mother was found dead is still searching for answers. Just after midnight officers were sent to the 200 block of West Michigan near downtown for Toni Smith, found unresponsive in the apartment. Smith's death is deemed suspicious and police have 45 year old David Royalty in custody, Royalty is not a suspect, just a person of interest. The grieving family must now figure out how to pay for the burial of their loved one. Candice Owen is struggling to find the words to describe her heartache and shock hearing about her mom's death. As she musters up the strength to take care of her own family, finances are an added stress in what she says has been the worse day of her life. Toni Smith leaves behind a family in agony. "I can never tell her I love her I can never hug her again." Her daughter, Candice Owen is still trying to deal with the death, especially since her own cousin, David Royalty's name has come up in the investigation. "We don't know what to think, we know that he's done some pretty desperate stuff to get ahold of drugs but this..." Owen adds. But as fresh as the pain of her mom's death is, it's time to think about Smith's funeral, but funding it is looking to be impossible. Owen tells us, "I got to be the strong one because I got to be the one to make sure she has a proper burial but I don't know how I can do it." A mom herself, Owen says the woman who raised her is worthy of nothing less than perfection saying "She deserves the best funeral possible." There's misery of not knowing why her mom is gone, Owen says if there's any positive, it's the fact she's got a new guardian from afar. "I know that wherever my mom is she will always be watching us." If you'd like to donate and help Toni Smith's family fund her funeral, give Candice Owen a call at 812-909-1240 or 812-266-3639. A funeral date won't be set until the Coroner completes an autopsy.
Investigators are releasing few details about the crime except to say Smith apparently died from multiple injuries. They also say Smith's sister was also asleep in the house when the murder occurred.
The woman whose mother was found dead is still searching for answers. Just after midnight officers were sent to the 200 block of West Michigan near downtown for Toni Smith, found unresponsive in the apartment. Smith's death is deemed suspicious and police have 45 year old David Royalty in custody, Royalty is not a suspect, just a person of interest. The grieving family must now figure out how to pay for the burial of their loved one. Candice Owen is struggling to find the words to describe her heartache and shock hearing about her mom's death. As she musters up the strength to take care of her own family, finances are an added stress in what she says has been the worse day of her life. Toni Smith leaves behind a family in agony. "I can never tell her I love her I can never hug her again." Her daughter, Candice Owen is still trying to deal with the death, especially since her own cousin, David Royalty's name has come up in the investigation. "We don't know what to think, we know that he's done some pretty desperate stuff to get ahold of drugs but this..." Owen adds. But as fresh as the pain of her mom's death is, it's time to think about Smith's funeral, but funding it is looking to be impossible. Owen tells us, "I got to be the strong one because I got to be the one to make sure she has a proper burial but I don't know how I can do it." A mom herself, Owen says the woman who raised her is worthy of nothing less than perfection saying "She deserves the best funeral possible." There's misery of not knowing why her mom is gone, Owen says if there's any positive, it's the fact she's got a new guardian from afar. "I know that wherever my mom is she will always be watching us." If you'd like to donate and help Toni Smith's family fund her funeral, give Candice Owen a call at 812-909-1240 or 812-266-3639. A funeral date won't be set until the Coroner completes an autopsy.
Comments
Candice can contact Violent Crimes Assistance for assistance with the funeral costs if the coroner rules it a homicide. God bless this family.
Karen M.
February 22, 2013 at 1:30 pm
