Driver accused of killing O.C. bicyclist had psychological disaster, household says

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Within the years earlier than he was accused of operating down and stabbing an Orange County bicyclist in a surprising, apparently unprompted assault, Vanroy Evan Smith struggled along with his psychological well being, based on his household and courtroom information.

In a petition filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom in December searching for full custody of their two kids, Smith’s ex-wife wrote that the 39-year-old was “recognized with paranoid schizophrenia and bi-polar dysfunction.”

A member of the family, who spoke to The Instances on situation of anonymity due to fears for his or her security, mentioned the prognosis got here after an incident in 2020 that drew police to Smith’s residence in Lengthy Seashore. In that incident, Smith allegedly attacked his pal, who was attempting to subdue him throughout a psychological well being episode, based on the relative. Smith was hospitalized and launched after just a few days.

“He’s attacking, not realizing that we’re attempting to assist him,” the relative mentioned.

Within the youngster custody papers, Smith’s ex-wife wrote that he “destroyed property at his residence in a violent psychological well being episode.”

On Dec. 19, 2020, Lengthy Seashore cops had been known as at about 12:12 p.m. to Smith’s residence on the 6400 block of Atlantic Avenue after receiving reviews of a “violent, mentally sick particular person,” based on a abstract of the decision obtained by The Instances.

“Upon arrival, officers contacted a male grownup topic who was inside a residence inflicting property harm and was concerned in an altercation with an acquaintance,” based on the abstract.

Firefighters took Smith to a hospital, the place he was positioned on a “5150 maintain,” that means he was detained for 72 hours after he was believed to be a hazard to himself, or others, on account of a psychological well being dysfunction.

Now, Smith is suspected of putting Dr. Michael John Mammone, 58, along with his white Lexus on Feb. 1 whereas Mammone was using his bicycle in Dana Level, Orange County sheriff’s officers mentioned. Smith then acquired out of the automotive and repeatedly stabbed Mammone with a knife, authorities mentioned.

Mammone died at Windfall Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, the place he generally labored as an emergency room doctor, deputies mentioned.

Smith was pinned down by bystanders, who had rushed to assist Mammone after the assault, based on authorities. A knife, believed to have been used within the assault, was recovered on the scene.

Investigators usually are not conscious of a connection between Smith and Mammone and are nonetheless attempting to find out what prompted the assault.

“An harmless man is lifeless as a result of he took a motorbike trip to take pleasure in an exquisite California day alongside the seaside and he was hit with a automotive and stabbed to demise by somebody he apparently by no means met,” Orange County Dist. Atty. Todd Spitzer mentioned in a information launch final week. “The homicide of a whole stranger in broad daylight for what seems to be completely no cause is the stuff of nightmares.”

A bicycle lying in the street behind crime scene tape

Dr. Michael John Mammone, 58, was killed final week whereas using his bicycle in Dana Level.

(OnScene.TV)

Smith pleaded not responsible Friday to a homicide cost and a sentencing enhancement alleging private use of a lethal weapon, based on Orange County Superior Courtroom information. Smith, who's listed as unemployed in jail information, is being held on $1-million bail.

If convicted, Smith faces a most sentence of 25 years to life in jail.

Smith was born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. round 2008 after getting married, the member of the family mentioned. After his divorce in 2012, he stayed within the Lengthy Seashore space to assist take care of his kids. Smith had his personal accounting enterprise and lived alone.

Alexander Solhi, whose regulation agency is in the identical constructing as Smith’s accounting enterprise, mentioned Smith did his agency’s bookkeeping for at the very least two years. Smith attended two of the agency’s Christmas events and would often exit to dinner with Solhi, he mentioned.

“He was a really well mannered, good man,” Solhi mentioned. “He didn’t look like a violent man in any respect. There have been no harmful propensities that will stick out. That’s why I used to be fairly shocked to see it was him doing that. Positively utterly out of character.”

By late 2019 and early 2020, Solhi mentioned, Smith appeared more and more strained.

“He regarded very pressured and never comfy in his personal pores and skin,” Sohli mentioned. “I couldn’t differentiate if it was work-related. He had two kids, however it appeared prefer it was very peaceable between him and his ex-wife.”

Solhi final noticed Smith a few 12 months in the past, when Smith instructed him that he was vacating the constructing and was going to earn a living from home.

Smith’s member of the family who spoke to The Instances mentioned they hadn’t seen Smith since round Thanksgiving. Two days earlier than Mammone’s killing, the member of the family mentioned, they reached out to Smith by textual content to examine in.

“I mentioned, ‘Is there something we are able to do? We wish to assist you to,’ ” the relative mentioned. “He was very calm and mentioned, ‘No, I’m OK. I’ll allow you to guys know if I need assistance.’ That was it.”

The household is devastated about what occurred.

“The one that he was is gone,” Smith’s member of the family mentioned. “There’s no getting back from this example.”

Family and friends of Mammone, in the meantime, have struggled with the lack of their liked one and are nonetheless looking for solutions.

Dr. William Dodge turned shut buddies with Mammone whereas the 2 labored within the emergency division at Windfall Mission Hospital in Laguna Seashore.

Mammone coated the night time shifts and earned a status as a level-headed, thorough and sort physician.

“He had the status of being a pleasant man, a cool man who would bend over backwards for his sufferers and go the additional mile,” Dodge mentioned.

“Your complete Mission Hospital household is grieving over the lack of an unbelievable doctor and pal,” representatives for the hospital wrote in a press release final week. “We'll honor Dr. Mammone’s dedication to our group and fervour for medication.”


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