Dublin woman charged with concealing man’s death

A Dublin woman has been charged with concealing a man’s death and then escaping from authorities as they tended to a child with her when arrested.

Britney Shane NeSmith, 29, of 1606 Knox St., faces more than a half-dozen charges that also include cruelty to children and possession of methamphetamine.

According to a release from the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on Oct. 15 to a residence on Ga. 257 in reference to a death and found 66-year-old Ricky Williams unresponsive. During the investigation, it was learned that NeSmith had found Williams deceased on Saturday, Oct. 12, but failed to notify anyone of Williams’ death until two days later.

Williams’ death is still under investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

Nesmith was located and while interviewing her about the death, investigators observed a glass pipe, commonly used for smoking meth, sticking out of her pocket, according to the release. Investigators seized the pipe and placed NeSmith under arrest, and  also found a bag of suspected meth in her purse. She was handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol truck. 

The sheriff’s office also said a juvenile child was with NeSmith and while deputies were speaking to a third party trying to secure a suitable location to place the child, NeSmith was able to exit the patrol truck and flee into the woods.

She subsequently was apprehended and taken to the Laurens Law Enforcement Center, the release said.

NeSmith is charged with concealing death of another; criminal trespass; cruelty to children (second degree, felony); escape (felony); possession of methamphetamine; possession of tools for commission of a crime; willful obstruction of law enforcement officers by use of threats or violence.

The sheriff’s office asks that if anyone has any information about Williams’ death to contact the Investigations Division at (478) 272-1522.