Pierce County woman sentenced to prison for killing her fiance in 2019
A Pierce County woman was sentenced to 17 years in prison Friday for killing her fiance.
Nina Joy Smith, 33, pleaded guilty July 10 to second-degree murder in the April 18, 2019, death of 31-year-old Joshua Everman.
Smith called 911 early that morning to say Everman, 31, shot himself after they fought over a gun, according to the charging papers.
According to investigators, Everman was shot on the left side of the head when he was right-handed, and the gun was at least a foot away when he was shot.
Everman was killed two months before he and Smith were supposed to get married. Smith and Everman also had a 4-month-old daughter at the time of the shooting.
Smith’s 4-year-old daughter, Scarlett, also was present at the time of the shooting.
Superior Court Judge James R. Orlando sentenced Smith.
There were more than 15 victim impact statements provided to the court from Everman’s friends and family.
The statements talked about what great person Everman was and how people were concerned about his relationship with Smith.
“People around (Everman) started to see the toxic traits about (Smith) and the distancing it was causing. From their everyday drinking and her anger issues, to the way she treated him. Some even tried to talk to him about it but also knew there was nothing we could do about it,” said Justin Haight, a friend of Everman for over 20 years, in his letter to the court.
Jack Voshell, Smith’s former boyfriend and the father of her 4-year old daughter, also provided the court with a statement.
“She has never financially helped with our daughter,” said Voshell. “She deserves to get the full penalty of her actions so that she will not do this to someone else. Everyone deserves justice in this situation.”
Smith, her parents and one of Smith’s friends also provided the court with letters for sentencing.
“Nina is a person of good moral character, who comes from a strong family background,” said Irvin and Mi Hwa Smith, the parents of Nina. “It is my sincere hope that the court will take this letter into consideration at the time of the sentencing.”
In her four-page letter to Orlando, Smith talked about how Everman would want her to turn the tragedy into an opportunity for growth and understanding. She offered her apology to everyone involved.
“(My friends and family) know as I do, how much Josh meant to me, and the love we had for one another. I am truly sorry for the grief and pain I have caused in all this and I hope to make amends for my actions,” said Smith.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 12:00 PM.