Jamilla Smith’s family reported her missing on Dec. 2, 2023. Investigators allege Daniel Harmon ran over Smith, his ex-girlfriend, in Aiken County, South Carolina, and disposed her body. He’s charged with murder as cops look for her remains. (Images: Aiken County Sheriff’s Office)
Police in South Carolina added a murder charge Saturday for a man already in jail for the suspected death of his missing ex-girlfriend, according to records.
The Aiken County Sheriff’s Office initially arrested 34-year-old Daniel Gabriel Harmon with second-degree domestic violence on Dec. 4. Investigators added a kidnapping charge on Dec. 6, court records show. Family members reported Harmon’s ex-girlfriend, 30-year-old Jamilla “Milla” Shanae Smith around 7 p.m. on Dec. 2. The Sheriff’s Office said Harmon and Smith had a history of prior domestic violence against each other. Investigators also said Harmon has “mental health issues and made some threats of self-harm.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by local ABC affiliate WJBF, detectives believe Harmon killed Smith around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 outside her home on Old Jackson Highway in Jackson, South Carolina. Smith called 911 to say her ex-boyfriend broke into her home and was chasing her down the road. Dispatchers heard a car engine revving and Smith screaming. She apparently dropped the phone and dispatchers heard a man on the other line telling Smith to get into car so he could take her to the emergency room.
Smith repeatedly refused and told the man that he ran her over and that she was in pain before the line went dead, the affidavit reportedly said. The man, believed to be Harmon, never took her to the hospital.
Investigators later allegedly found a shoe print on the Smith’s door.
After deputies reported Smith missing to the media, they received a tip from someone saying they rented a 2023 Dodge Charge to Harmon. They tracked the car to a home and found it covered. Harmon was inside and they took him into custody, the affidavit said.
Detectives found blood in the car’s trunk and sent a sample to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. On Saturday, detectives received the results, but the information was redacted from the affidavit, WJBF reported.
Smith’s remains have yet to be located. Family and friends have continued to look for Smith in hopes of closure.
“We don’t want Jamilla to become another statistic,” family friend Vanessa Williams told local CBS affiliate WRDW on Dec. 18. “She has family who loves her, children who love her, and that’s why we’re here today. We don’t want to be swept under the rug.”
Aiken Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eric Abdullah told the TV station: “We all have one ultimate goal, and that is to find Jamilla.”
Harmon remains at the Aiken County Jail without bond. He has a court date scheduled for Feb. 23.
The Aiken Standard reports Harmon has a slew of previous criminal charges including domestic violence, assault and battery.
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