RANDOLPH COUNTY, NC - Randolph County Investigators believe a 19-year-old Asheboro woman was assaulted and killed by her mother's boyfriend last fall before he tried to conceal her death.
Detectives believe Benjamin David Smith, drove Victoria Scofield to where her body was found and that he assaulted and killed her. Detectives also believe that Smith took his own life, knowing that an investigation would uncover his involvement in Scofield’s death.
Detectives found key pieces of evidence that planted Smith where Scofield's body was found near the 3800 block of Pisgah Covered Bridge Road in Asheboro on Oct. 24.
Smith, 41, is the primary suspect in the case. Scofield was seen on surveillance video from Nitro's bar in Randleman getting into a car with Smith, who was in a relationship with Jonie Gardner at the time.
Smith arrived home around 7 a.m. on Oct. 22 without Scofield according to detectives.
Smith was determined by authorities to have shot and killed himself as he was found dead in a car by co-workers at Terry's Plumbing in Asheboro on Oct. 24. Gardner told investigators that she had planned on reporting her daughter missing with the Randleman Police Department and that she told Smith earlier that morning.
Toxicology reports revealed Scofield had cocaine, methamphetamine and alcohol in her body when she died. An autopsy revealed she died of blunt force trauma to the head and asphyxia due to neck compression. Her death is officially listed as a homicide by the Chief Medical Examiner.
