By Wainwright Jeffers - bio | email
VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) - "She was so sweet," said Kerry Tyson, victim's friend.
Tyson is talking about 45-year-old Tammy Smith, the woman she knew since childhood.
Smith's body was found in a grassy area in the 1000 block of Cypress Street in Valdosta, by a man riding his bicycle.
The victim lived on the same street not even a mile away.
"I've been known this child every since she was a young, and then he goes and murders her like this," said Tyson.
"I've lived in this area for about 30 to 32 years," said Joyce Evans, area resident.
Evans is a Lowndes County Commissioner and lives close to where Smith's body was discovered.
"They had the road blocked off and I found out what happened through one of the neighbors," said Evans.
Neighbors haven't seen anything like this around here until now.
"We are all in dismay and trying to figure out how such a thing can happen in the neighborhood," said Evans.
"I loved Tammy, she was outspoken," said Bobbi, victim's friend "I don't know what triggered it, but he didn't have to do her like that," she said.
Those close to Tammy told WALB she's been a victim of violence in the past.
"She came around here one day and showed me scars all over her face, she showed me where he stabbed her on her chest," said Tyson.
Police do have person of interest in the case but have not released the suspect's name.
Neighbors are shocked and upset.
"It shook up everybody, scared my aunty, scared everybody," said Bobbi.
So far police are not saying how Tammy Smith was killed her body was sent to the State Crime Lab in Atlanta for an autopsy.
Feedback
©2009 WALB News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
