Suspect identified; DA says killing tied to drugs

Corrections dept. mugshot of Ronald Smith

Suspect identified; DA says killing tied to drugs

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Saturday, January 31. 2009

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The man charged in connection with the January 30 shooting death of 56-year-old Charles G. Adams here has been identified as Ronald Smith. Smith, 28, has been charged with murder and malice murder.

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#1 Anonymous on 01/31/09 at 02:53 PM

It is great that all agencies are working together, finally. Great job to all to those involved.

#1.1 Anonymous on 01/31/09 at 06:52 PM

I hope the prosecuor now starts to do his job and prosecute. You have no primary excuse now Milam. Do your job for a change.

#1.1.1 Chris Sizemore on 02/04/09 at 12:39 PM

I think that Ronald Smith should be put to death in the most painful way possibale or never see day light agin.

#1.2 hfhhfhfdjkjkskskjgflgjvsjgblgbhnlsihbsbhlshbh on 01/31/09 at 07:52 PM

u made my camera brake and made my nana look good and shes very ugly

#1.3 Anonymous on 02/01/09 at 04:52 PM

What happened to innocent until proven guilty ? What about the family; wife, children, mother, father,and sister of Ronald E. Smith? He had an unpaid traffic ticket and a drug related past.... he did his time and has turned his life around but as normal in these small towns that is never forgotten. When starting over and doing it the right way, hope you don't ever find yourself in an area of a crime. You are the natural suspect !!! Ronald had NO reason to execute this crime. He had a loving wife and beautiful children. If you take note to the picture with the sores - they were from when he was in a lost way. Now take note to the arrest picture... there are NO sores. God forbid that any of us have a past, where we did things that we were less proud of, paid for, corrected, tried to move forward and live a life with our family. He deserves the benefit of innocent unless proven guilty.

#1.3.1 Andrew Odom on 02/01/09 at 05:36 PM

I am sorry 'Anonymous' but I am completely lost by your comment. No one has said anything about Smith being guilty. He is the alleged killer and based on evidence collected at the scene, rightly so.

His unpaid traffic ticket is of no consequence in a murder case. Yes, he did in fact do some boot camp time for drug charges. Until a motive is suggested your notion that "Ronald has NO reason to execute this crime" actually makes you sound as if you have inside information investigators might be interested in.

In my experience neither a loving wife nor beautiful children make you exempt from drug addiction, violence, or crime. And I think it goes without saying that he is innocent until proven otherwise. The court video today was an arraignment hearing in which a judicial officer informs the defendant of the following:

* Alleged charges
* Constitutional Rights

That is as far as the process has gotten.

#1.3.1.1 Ivy Adams on 02/01/09 at 10:56 PM

I have to say i agree with you Andrew,And if my earlier statement implied that Ronald is guilty then i am sorry ,that is up to the courts to decide based on the evidence.I also apologize to you as well for my comments about the pic's,I was only thinking of my son and how upset he is at this time,I do have first hand knowledge of my estranged husbands involvement with drugs and in no way am trying to trash him,but the truth is the truth.It is sad that so many families are torn apart due to drug addiction..It is my most heartfelt prayer that this tragedy will somehow help others in making better choices that effect not only themselves but their children and community as well.

#1.3.2 Anonymous on 02/02/09 at 09:51 PM

Its only human nature to want to defend your husband and the father of your children at any and all cost. However, you are certainly not looking at the big picture. I have not seen one picture of him that he does not have open sores on himself which clearly would indicate that his meth habit has continued. Not to mention the fact that if he had turned his life around he would not been in the this situtation and the items used for evidence would not have been found in his home. Maybe while being locked up he can get the help that he needs and time to think about his life and its never too late to change. Our prayers are with all of the families.

#1.3.3 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 08:55 PM

thank you. it's about time someone had something intelligent to say.

#1.3.4 Anonymous on 02/17/09 at 07:06 PM

i sure do hope your wright about ronald. i hope he didnt do this most unforgiveable crime!! i hope your wright i sure do hope he stoped doing durgs. and in eyes he is innocent. my hole family will keep ronald in our prays to keep him safe and to prove him innocent and most inportant to bring him home to his family....

#2 Ivy Adams on 01/31/09 at 03:53 PM

As the estranged wife of Mr Adams and the mother of his 27 year old son of who i removed from the dangers of a drug lifestyle almost 13 yrs ago.
I want to thank all law enforcement agencies for their swift action in making an arrest.Looking at this young mans photo who is about the same age as my own son,I have sadness in my heart for him because the choices we make in this life not only effect us but many others.I know that my decision to remove my son from this life was truly the right one.May God forgive you Ronald,For i do and in time i pray my son will.

#3 Anna on 01/31/09 at 04:52 PM

I recommend those of you who have been so unnecessarily horrified with the pictures of the investigation of a murder scene show those same professional pictures to your children. Tell them drugs kill. His estranged wife admits it. This man would probably be alive today and possibly could have watched his son grow up if he hadn't adopted what Ms. Adams calls a drug lifestyle. There is a lesson here.

#3.1 Anonymous on 01/31/09 at 06:57 PM

Thanks mom

#3.2 Anonymous on 01/31/09 at 07:22 PM

This is not the "pictures" thread. Stop beating a dead horse.

#4 Anonymous on 01/31/09 at 05:19 PM

Damn he is ugly!

#5 Drew on 01/31/09 at 05:49 PM

As a professional journalist I am called to be without bias almost every moment of the day.

I moved to Barnesville from Brooklyn, NY thinking I would see less confusion, less violence, and less disregard. But now we seem to be in a fork in the road. All around us people are making bad decisions and becoming involved in drugs, violence, and genuine evil. And I will be the first to say it breaks my heart.

Despite what many believe I, too, am human. My condolences do go out to the family of Mr. Adams and my thoughts to the Smith family. I do not know the circumstances surrounding this event any better than we have reported at the Herald-Gazette. I do not have any insight additional to what has been stated already and I refuse to pass blame or circulate rumor.

Therefore, I cannot say who is at fault, who isn't, who made good choices and who made bad.

All I can say is that as a citizen of Barnesville / Lamar County and a human being in general, I am saddened by this event, the position it leaves both families in, and the shock it leaves the community in.

With regards and in public service,

Drew

#6 Ron Smith on 01/31/09 at 06:13 PM

The question has come up, is the Ronald Smith that serves on the school board or attends New Life Baptist Church. It is not, nor is it his son Matthew Ronald Smith.
My prayers go out to both families having to deal with this tragedy. Only by the grace of God that keeps it from being any of us.
Best regards
Ronald Smith

#7 anonymous on 01/31/09 at 08:37 PM

Favors Marable.

#7.1 Anonymous on 02/02/09 at 01:11 PM

I thought so too,damn Jeff!

#8 cody harrison & kevin williams on 02/01/09 at 12:12 AM

we wanna put another hickey on his neck

#8.1 Anna Ford on 02/01/09 at 12:15 PM

To Cody and Kevin: Now boys, your comments have no doubt triggered the "mother in me" and I must say, as I would mine own two children...The two of you are commenting on what you believed to be "hickey's" (which, in my opinion, is a little gross on your part, but that's another issue!) I thought I would take a moment and possibly explain the origin of those unattractive "blemishes" - Those marks you see are the classic "scratch and scab" marks of an avid meth user. Usually from the hallucinations this terrible drug can cause or the constant urge to figit and make repetitive movements with your hands. I'm quite sure Mr. Smith wishes (as he finally looks sober-faced in the mirror @ the county jail) that those marks were actually that of hickey's instead of the tell-tail marks caused by the mind altering drug METHAMPHETAMINE. Since you boys didn't recognize these marks, I can assume that you have no association with this drug or any people that have gotten themselves caught up in the downward spiral it provides. Consider this a lesson and yourselves very lucky. I have watched my sister turn into a person I no longer recognize or associate with. Another tragic loss to this deadly epidemic.

#9 Anonymous on 02/01/09 at 12:48 AM

I went to school with this kid and have known him pretty much my whole life. I knew that he was involved with drugs along with other illegal activity but I thought he had more sense than to do something like this. Talk about impaired judgement...what a Moron!!! My condolences also go out to the families of all parties that were involved. You're all in my prayers...God Bless.

#10 abbegale ginn on 02/01/09 at 12:42 PM

Its a terrible tradegy. You are a sorry piece of trash to kill a man who is paralyzed in a wheelchair about drugs!Burn him at the stake!

#11 Anna Ford on 02/01/09 at 02:05 PM

To correct my spelling before someone else does..."Tell-Tale" does not have a "tail" I should have caught that one! Thanks for allowing a forum such as this ~ Anna

#11.1 Andrew Odom on 02/01/09 at 04:13 PM

You are so welcome 'Anna'. It is our belief that by fostering conversation such as this (even when statements come in without claim) we can enhance our community and our understanding of where Barnesville is and where it can go from here.

#12 anoynomous on 02/01/09 at 06:07 PM

From my understanding, Ms.Adams your marriage ended because you were having an affair and not because Graves had a drug problem.
Are you trying to make yourself look good or what?

#12.1 Ivy Adams on 02/01/09 at 10:20 PM

Not at all anonymous..Just sad that things went from bad to worse in his life..we all have to be responsible for our own lives and choices,Mine was to show my son a different direction...nothing more.Believe what you will.And if you know so much state your identity.

#12.1.1 Anonymous on 02/02/09 at 09:20 AM

i think the above person knows a little bit more on the previous marriage than he is leading on..lol

#13 Louie on 02/02/09 at 06:26 AM

If this man is quilty it's just another reminder how mind altering drugs can in time really screw up a person sense of reality. When clean......I doubt this would have happened. It's this blasted war on drugs that is filling our prisons and killing our neightbors.

#14 Nora Daniel on 02/02/09 at 09:22 AM

I have known Ronnie Smith for a long time and not once did I see this kind of behavior in him. My heart goes out to everyone involved, the road these 2 families are about to go down will be unbearable. What really gets me is how everyone is so quick to judge, when in true reality you are probably no better than him. It's not hard to go down the wrong road - it's hard to turn around once your there. We seem to forget the good in people and only choose to remember the bad. For all of you who have something to say about Ronnie, let's take a look in your closet. What needs to happen here in this small but shallow town is everyone needs to reach out and HELP these kind of people instead of taking cheap shots at them while there down. May god be with you all

#15 Misty Ledford on 02/02/09 at 10:22 AM

I have known R.Smith for along time! People MORE SO from Lamar are so quick to judge when not even knowing the facts! What about (removed by editor) in this?? Look at his past and future direction, Ronnie came from loving parents and was a marine for his country to where MOST if NOT ALL of Lamar County citizens have flunked in their lives without the power of drugs!! Remeber who U are before u try to THINK u know who some one else is.. And this town has kept alot of secrets of there own.(EVERYONE) God says" Judge No One for You will be Judged accordingly by his word and NO OTHER" Not even the people who live in LAMAR County! Clean out from under ur rugs before u start to look under your neighbors!!

#15.1 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 09:10 PM

i too know who you speak of and i also know ronnie. The "good people" of barnesville that have been too quick to point the finger will be quite surprised to find out that ronnie is not guilty at all.

#16 Misty Ledford on 02/02/09 at 10:50 AM

Why did the editor edit out the name I gave in this? I know for a fact that there was another suspect in this matter, the GBI has contacted this person he is more than likely taking a polygraph as we speak. It's a shame How the truth may be hidden from all of us, you are the people who took an oath to tell us the truth and all the facts but u chose to remove that name???????????????????????????????

#16.1 Walter Geiger on 02/02/09 at 12:43 PM

i'm checking on the person you named but let's not go charging him with murder just yet.

#16.1.1 ryan crummie on 02/05/09 at 12:13 AM

thats right so why has ronnie been charged?

#17 anonymous on 02/02/09 at 11:01 AM

Ivy you need to get a REAL LIFE.... If you cared so much about Charles you would have kept your pants up. As for your son not seeing his father all those years, you shouldn't have planted those seeds of hate in him. When he turned 18 it was his choice to continue or discontiue a relationship with his father. You talk about the drug use this man had, tell what part did you partake in before you decided to leave. Clean out your closet, let's hang your dirty laundry out for all to see.. TRUST ME you would all be surprised

#17.1 Ivy Adams on 02/02/09 at 01:34 PM

I am not sure who you are, or what you may think you know about my life,NEVER have i planted seeds of hate in my son,He loved his father and was always aware of how things were,You did not live in our home so anything you may perceive to be true is just that your own perception.This is a terrible tragedy that I'm sure would never have occurred if all involved hadn't allowed drugs to rule their lives.There are many lessons here.So before you pass judgment and feel that you know without a doubt what went on in my home,please try to see the lesson before us all..and if you must continue at least give your name.

#17.2 Sandra Bray on 02/02/09 at 01:35 PM

OMG people!! What is going on here? Why the attacks on Ivy? Completely uncalled for!! This has absolutely NO bearing on Graves' murder at all. It is tasteless and vile to attack other people, especially at such a terrible time in their lives.
We knew Graves a long time ago, and he was a good guy. That's how I'll remember him.

#17.2.1 Ivy Adams on 02/02/09 at 02:06 PM

Thank you Sandra and Drew,And yes my son and I do try and focus on those good times with his father,This is a terrible thing for all involved and please people take note of the lessons here.There has been loss of life and potential loss of anothers freedom resulting in more children growing up without their father.Our children are precious and shouldn't have to be exposed to these things.We as humans all make mistakes,but the biggest mistake is to not learn from them and turn them around.

#18 Drew on 02/02/09 at 01:45 PM

I don't usually interject my personal opinions too much but I am going to add something here. I tend to agree with 'Sandra' on the fact that the news here is not about Ivy or her past transgressions. Neither is it with her son and his lack of a relationship with his father. Yes, comments have been made that have been made in anger and it makes a person want to sling mud back. But that takes away from the larger issues.

The focus should again be put on justice for a murder, conviction or absolution for a suspect, safety in Barnesville, and potential drug dens that are ruining families and lives. I ask that we all refocus and work together to bring Barnesville back to the safe community it has been in the past.

#19 Anonymous on 02/03/09 at 01:45 PM

Drugs are ruining a lot of peoples lives. If people would place the blame where it belongs instead of blaming everyone else then maybe some of the addicts would get help.

Its not good to keep bailing someone out when they get in trouble...sometimes the best thing to do is let them hit bottom.

#20 anonymous on 02/03/09 at 07:02 PM

everyone is so quick to kick Ronnie while he's down. What are you gonna do when you find out he didn't do it. I know for a fact there is another person of interest in this case. They have even taken a polygraph.. The real question I have is this; seems everywhere the bus driver goes there is death involved.. Might need to check that one out..Remember the Hill boy who killed himself when pulled over by the law and now Ronnie Smith

#21 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 12:54 PM

No dont remember the Hill boy

#22 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 01:16 PM

JoJo Hill. He was a meth head who shot his self about a year ago when he got stopped by the lamar county deputy who now works for Griffin P.D.

#23 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 01:59 PM

What did a bus driver have to do with any of this?

#24 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 02:21 PM

Why remember the "hill boy".
Meth head-crack head-pill head-roid rage-etc
went a-wall
did some time
didnt want to go to jail so he ended his life. What does this have to with the situation at hand. He wasnt supposed to be driving the vehicle so he shot himself. With all do respect to the family, atleast he didnt have a child with the same mentality he had.

#25 Anonymous on 02/04/09 at 02:22 PM

he has some more meat on him in the pic above vs the court room picture. Looks to me like he got on meth harder when he got released from that day care of a prison in forsyth.

#25.1 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 01:22 PM

looks to me like you are making an assumption

#25.1.1 Andrew Odom on 02/05/09 at 01:26 PM

An assumption by definition, yes. But an assumption based on drug paraphernalia found on the scene so an assumption warranted, methinks.

#25.1.1.1 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 06:42 PM

Yes, I will grant you your assumption. But the first comment assumed that he got on meth harder since his Forsyth boot camp days. Do you know that this time was any worse? Were you there? How much paraphenalia did he have the first time?

#26 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 04:16 PM

I think that when all is said and done
We will find that ties reach far beyond
a murderer and a victim.This does not effect
just Barnesville,It is a world wide problem
And as long as there are people that refuse to take responsibility for their own lives then this problem will persist,And no war on drugs
will solve the problem.As long as Families and friends enable by bailing out or over looking and giving safe haven,and making excuses for these individuals, allowing them the means to continue this will always be a problem.As hard as it is to turn away from a loved one in this situation,Allowing them to hit bottom and pray that they,themselves make the change,This is a war that can't be won...Just my two cents...

#27 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 07:11 PM

25.1

its more of a visual assesment rather than assumption. It would appear the "boy" was about 225 or so in the DOC picture vs about 165ish in the court room.

#27.1 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 11:47 PM

Well, I knew him then and I know him now and I would definitely tell you without a doubt that your visual assesment is wrong this time. I guess the stereotype that the more meth someone does, the slimmer they are does not stand true in this case. Although in others, I;m sure you would be correct.

#28 an old friend on 02/05/09 at 07:55 PM

I've been reading the views on these pages since Friday evening and I have to comment. I don't think Ivy and Graves' past relationship should be an issue at this time. I also regret the issue of drugs making it seem as if Graves may have brought this upon himself. He was friends with this family at one time. Graves was not the most pleasant person when he was young but in the last few years I saw a different person in him. He was actually a nice, quiet person and a pleasure to be around. Ivy you might be surpised about this! I've known Graves since he was a teenager and back then I would not have used those words to describe him. I just think it is a tragedy his life ended as it did.

#28.1 Anonymous on 02/05/09 at 10:29 PM

I Also think it is a tragedy that his life ended as it did.I also am an old friend,I knew Graves and Ivy as well.I do know that Ivy spend 16 years with this man.I do know that drugs was very much a part of his life,not that he brought it upon himself,but when we surround ourselves with this lifestyle we increase the odds of this kind of thing happening.I do know that Ivy had a choice to make concerning their son, and I did then,as I do now support her decision to remove their son from this influence.I do know that Ivy always made her and his son's whereabouts available to Graves through her mom and dad.I do know that Graves chose not to make contact with either.I am just saddened as i know she is that Graves chose not to take steps to improve his situation.But as you said it is not about their past relationship,and no one deserves to die like this.But drugs are a main issue in this case. As to Graves involvement,That is for the courts to decide based upon the evidence.

#28.2 gene on 02/16/09 at 08:29 AM

is this the graves adams that used to live in thomaston and then zebulon when he was a teenager,?????

#29 anonymous #2 on 02/05/09 at 09:26 PM

Were any of you there?...NO. you weren't! Like all yall's mother should have taught you unless you know for a fact, keep your mouths shut. Who cares about a old marriage. Thats not the issue. The issue is a man got shot and some one got framed. The good lord is the only one who knows the truth! So I pray for all family members even the wife, kids and parents of the accused. hint hint ACCUSED! INNOCENT UNTILL PROVEN GUILTY!!

#30 walt deems on 02/06/09 at 08:08 AM

i owe an appoligy to rons family, and my hearty goes out to them. i hope he isnt the one who done it.

#31 Anonymous on 02/06/09 at 01:17 PM

Karma visits everyone.

#31.1 Anonymous on 02/06/09 at 11:11 PM

Absolutely..either in this life or the next..The universal judicial system guarantees that what we sow, shall we also reap.the laws of man are fallible,But the laws of Karma aren't.

#32 Anonymous on 02/07/09 at 07:04 PM

why did they pick this idiot out of the rest of lamar county if he is innocent.
Surely they have done a gun residue test on his hand to determine if he fired the gun. Fingerprints maybe.
Why isnt this Jason guy in custody yet if he was the one who done it. What is his last name?

#33 Anonymous on 02/12/09 at 05:54 PM

Guess since some of the evidence has come out, this guys supporters have shut up.

#33.1 anonymous on 02/13/09 at 06:40 PM

the person you are talking about was cleared of any of any wrong doing in this case, don't you think if the police thought for one minute he had something to do with it he would be in jail lets get real

#34 Michael on 02/15/09 at 04:59 PM

Not something my boy Ronnie in his right mind would even think of doing! Luv u man! Jill,Toby,April,Beth and the kids my heart goes out to you.

#35 Jeff on 02/17/09 at 07:42 PM

You said it...in his right mind....wonder if his mind was geeked out of his head?

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