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The Murder of Justin Hare
● Sentenced
Law Enforcement Officer
New Mexico
The Victims
Two Lives Taken
Officer Justin Hare | 1988–2024
| Full Name | Justin Hare |
| Age | 35 |
| Agency | New Mexico State Police |
| Partner | Daizzare Quintana |
| Children | Three daughters |
Victim One
Officer Justin Hare
Justin Hare was a 35-year-old New Mexico State Police officer stationed in Logan, a small community in eastern New Mexico. He was described by those who worked alongside him as a truly great person and a top-notch officer. His partner, Daizzare Quintana, was pregnant with their third child at the time of his death.
Justin was known for his dedication to his work and his deep commitment to his family. His girls were his world, and he was present at every turn in their lives. At his funeral, attended by law enforcement officers from across the country, family and colleagues honored a man who showed up for his community without hesitation.
Justin Hare was killed doing exactly what he was trained and called to do: stopping to help someone in need in the dark, before dawn, on a remote stretch of highway. His last words were an offer of a ride back to town.
Phonesia Machado-Fore | 1971–2024
| Full Name | Phonesia Machado-Fore |
| Age | 52 |
| Occupation | Paramedic Crew Chief |
| Location | Dillon County, SC |
| Children | Four |
Victim Two
Phonesia Machado-Fore
Phonesia Machado-Fore was 52 years old and served as a paramedic crew chief in Dillon County, South Carolina. She was a mother of four and a seasoned first responder who spent her career helping people in emergency situations. She was known and respected in her community.
On March 13, 2024, two days before Officer Hare was killed, Phonesia was abducted from her home by Jaremy Smith. He bound her with zip ties and plastic wrap, shot her with a firearm stolen from her roommate, and fled the state in her white BMW. Her body was discovered outside Lake View, South Carolina on March 14.
Her death directly preceded Officer Hare's. Smith was driving Phonesia's stolen vehicle and using the gun stolen from her roommate when he encountered Hare on I-40. Federal prosecutors in South Carolina are seeking the death penalty in connection with her murder. That case is pending.
01
Background
What We Know
In the early morning hours of March 15, 2024, at approximately 5:30 a.m., New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare was dispatched to assist a stranded motorist on Interstate 40 near milepost 318, close to the town of Tucumcari in Quay County, New Mexico. A white BMW had a flat tire and the driver had been attempting to flag down passing vehicles from the roadside.
Officer Hare parked behind the BMW. The driver, later identified as Jaremy Alexander Smith, approached the passenger side window of Hare's patrol vehicle. Dash camera footage captured the exchange. Smith asked: "I have a flat tire. Can you help me?" Hare responded: "OK. I can get you back to town real quick. But nobody's open tonight." Moments later, Smith fired a single shot that struck Hare in the forehead. Smith then circled to the driver's side, waited for traffic to pass, and fired two more times, striking Hare in the neck and face.
Smith pushed Officer Hare into the passenger seat, took the driver's seat, and drove away in the patrol vehicle. Dispatch received no response from Officer Hare. A duress signal was activated. A second officer was dispatched to the scene. Smith drove approximately 13 miles before pulling over near mile marker 305 and leaving Officer Hare on the roadside next to the abandoned cruiser. Officer Hare was transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries that morning. The white BMW Smith had been driving belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, a South Carolina paramedic he had murdered two days earlier.
Case Timeline
How It Unfolded
March 13, 2024 — Marion, South Carolina
Phonesia Machado-Fore Abducted and Murdered
Jaremy Smith forcibly abducts Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, a paramedic crew chief in Dillon County, South Carolina, from her home. He binds her with zip ties and plastic wrap, shoots her in the head with a firearm stolen from her roommate, and takes her white 2011 BMW 335i. He flees across state lines through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before entering New Mexico.
March 14, 2024
Machado-Fore Reported Missing — Body Found
Phonesia Machado-Fore is reported missing. Her body is discovered outside Lake View, South Carolina, at approximately 6:15 p.m. Her white BMW has already left the state with Smith behind the wheel.
March 15, 2024 — 5:30 a.m.
Officer Justin Hare Is Murdered
Officer Hare responds to a call of a stranded motorist on I-40 near Tucumcari. Smith approaches his patrol vehicle and asks for help with a flat tire. After Hare offers to drive him to town, Smith shoots him three times. He drives away in the patrol cruiser with Hare inside, abandons the vehicle and the mortally wounded officer near mile marker 305, and flees. Hare dies at a hospital that morning. A two-day multi-agency manhunt begins immediately.
March 17, 2024 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
Smith Apprehended — Wounded in Foot Chase
A gas station clerk at Murphy's Gas Station on Sunshine West Plaza Drive in Albuquerque recognizes Smith's unusual name from police advisories when he presents ID for a purchase and contacts law enforcement. Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies respond. Smith attempts to flee on foot through a residential neighborhood. During the pursuit, shots are exchanged and Smith is wounded. He is taken into custody, transported to a hospital under guard, and later charged. The firearm used in Hare's murder is recovered at the scene.
January 17, 2025
Smith Pleads Guilty — Federal Charges
Jaremy Smith pleads guilty in U.S. District Court in New Mexico to five federal counts: carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a stolen firearm, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He agrees that life without parole is the appropriate sentence.
March 27, 2024
Funeral Services for Officer Hare
Officer Justin Hare is honored at funeral services at Legacy Church in Albuquerque, attended by law enforcement officers and community members from across the country. His family, colleagues, and the state of New Mexico mourn his death.
April 21, 2025
Smith Sentenced to Life Without Parole
U.S. District Judge James O. Browning sentences Jaremy Smith to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Dozens of state police officers pack the courtroom. Hare's family, including his mother Terry, his father James, his partner Daizzare Quintana, and his brother, address Smith directly. Smith faces separate federal charges in South Carolina in connection with the murder of Phonesia Machado-Fore, where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
02
Investigation
The Investigation
The investigation into Officer Hare's death involved multiple agencies across New Mexico, South Carolina, and the states Smith passed through during his cross-country flight. Dash camera footage from Hare's patrol vehicle captured the murder and was central to the prosecution. The footage showed the brief exchange between Hare and Smith, and recorded Smith's movements around the vehicle before and after the shooting.
Smith was identified quickly through the white BMW, which was traced to Phonesia Machado-Fore in South Carolina. Investigators established that Smith had murdered Machado-Fore on March 13, stolen her vehicle and the gun he used to kill Hare, and drove across six states before the flat tire on I-40 brought him into contact with Officer Hare. After stealing Hare's patrol cruiser and abandoning him on the roadside, Smith broke into a cabin in the New Mexico desert and stole a truck to continue his flight to Albuquerque, where he had been attempting to reach a former girlfriend.
The case was resolved within two days of Officer Hare's death when a gas station clerk in Albuquerque recognized Smith's unusually spelled name on his ID and called police. Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies recovered the murder weapon during the foot chase that followed Smith's arrest. Smith's extensive prior criminal history in South Carolina, which included convictions for taking hostages, armed robbery, burglary, auto theft, and shooting at a motor vehicle, was a factor in the federal case.
03
Arrest & Charges
The Accused
Jaremy Alexander Smith
Jaremy Alexander Smith
Age 33 at Time of Crime — Marion, South Carolina — Stranger
Federal Charges (New Mexico): Carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping resulting in death, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a stolen firearm, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm
Arrested: March 17, 2024 — Albuquerque, New Mexico
Plea: Guilty — January 17, 2025
Sentence: Life in federal prison without the possibility of parole — April 21, 2025 — U.S. District Judge James O. Browning
South Carolina Charges (Pending): Five federal counts related to the murder of Phonesia Machado-Fore — death penalty being sought
Prior Record: Convictions in South Carolina for taking hostages, armed robbery, burglary, auto theft, shooting at a motor vehicle, rioting in jail, and resisting arrest
Key Evidence: Dash camera footage of the murder, recovered murder weapon, stolen BMW traced to Machado-Fore, gas station ID recognition leading to arrest
In Memoriam
They Are Not Forgotten
Phonesia Machado-Fore spent her career driving toward emergencies to help strangers. Justin Hare spent his career pulling over to help people in need on the side of the road. Both of them were killed by the same man, two days apart, because they were exactly the kind of people who show up for others.
Justin's mother sat through a year of hearings and watched the dash cam footage of her son's death repeatedly. His father said he wanted the man put to death. His partner Daizzare spoke at sentencing about the soulmate and father her daughters lost. Dozens of state police officers packed the courtroom for the sentencing. They wore their uniforms. They showed up for him one more time.
Phonesia's case is still working its way through the courts. Her family is still waiting for the full weight of accountability to land. Both of them deserved better than what happened to them on those two days in March 2024.
"Officer Justin Hare, a hero who saw someone in need and selflessly stepped in to help, paid the ultimate price. We honor his memory by ensuring that Jaremy Smith will never again be able to endanger the lives of others."
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison — April 21, 2025
Sources
U.S. Department of Justice — U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico | KOB 4 | Albuquerque Journal | NBC News | ABQ RAW | WRDW/WAGT | WMBF News | Santa Fe New Mexican | New Mexico State Police
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