Murphy – A local man was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2022 strangulation of 55-year-old Shirley McClure in Culberson.
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James Tyrone Smith, 57, will serve 26-32 years in prison in a plea agreement that, in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree murder, reduced his maximum penalty from life in prison, reduced his charge from first-degree murder, and dismissed charges of breaking and entering, larceny, car theft and possession of stolen property.
He will also have to pay McClure’s family $6,936.25 to compensate them for her funeral expenses.
The sentence was handed down by Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers at the Cherokee County Courthouse on Monday morning. Assistant district attorney John Hindsman Jr. prosecuted the case, while Smith was represented by attorney Jim Rice.
Smith and McClure had been in a relationship that soured, and Smith claims he went to McClure’s home at 1337 Old Culberson Road in January 2022 to retrieve property he felt he was entitled to, according to statements in court Monday. Smith claims McClure confronted him holding a knife.
Smith, who had previous burglary convictions in another state, strangled McClure to death with a USB charging cord and fled in her Nissan Rogue, taking jewelry and other items from McClure’s home.
The family – including her 14-year-old son and her daughter, who was six months pregnant at the time – grew concerned about her welfare and went to her house on the evening of Jan. 11, 2022, when they discovered her remains. McClure had been dead for several days and, because the house was heated during the winter, her body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
An autopsy concluded she died of asphyxiation from the USB cord wrapped around her neck.
Surveillance video showed Smith driving McClure’s Nissan on Jan. 7, 2022, the same day authorities believe McClure was murdered. McClure was arrested a week later and has been in jail ever since.
Smith initially denied the allegations, but about a month later admitted the crimes to jail authorities.
McClure’s son, Jeremiah Lloyd, and daughter, Mycah Lloyd, spoke during Monday’s sentencing. The daughter called Smith “vile and disgusting,” while the son called Smith a “cold-blooded killer” who will face a more punitive form of justice from other prison inmates.
Smith’s lawyer read a letter from Smith in which he expressed remorse.