cTIVE NOTIFICATION G4 [O8I23 eryosb USSD ht COPY: 299 BNUSRED) Gm 6550 WARRANT OF ARREST 206 F 2. CAUSE NO: D1DC25100099 ‘THE STATE OF TEXAS vs. NAME: WANYA KASEAN SMITH TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALIASES: OFFENSE NO: 23-2500653 RACE/SEX/DOB: BLACK/AFRICAN OFFENSE DATE: 09-07-2023 AMERICAN / MALE / 0227/2002 ADDRESS: 1720 W WELLS BRANCH PKWY. #4306 CITY, STATE, ZIP: AUSTIN, TEXAS 78728 SSN: PEACE OFFICER: Paul Salo # 3012 ID -48304979Tx 48304979 ‘THE STATE OF TEXAS ‘TO ANY PEACE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: GREETINGS ‘You are hereby commanded to arrest WANYA KASEAN SMITH BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN / MALE /02/272002 Monrcra und in your county, and bring Defendant before m, stn Ker, in and for the CITY OF AUSTIN Of std ee ea of Travis County, ten and here o answer the State Texas Toran fence gore ee Of said State, to-wit 3.00 |N4E} be Murder—(Ist Degree Felony) tad of which offense Defendant is accused by the written complaint, underoath of Paul Salo, filed before me, {G1 HEREIN FAIL NOT butof tis writ make de return, showing how you have executed the cone EFL WITNESS my oficial signature on thi 08 day of Sep, 202, at 3-59 PM. County of Travis, Texas CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL CouRT NWaSW VANWM ‘HLIAS @ ‘Travis County Sheriffs Office Report Number # 23-2500653 iRETURN This Warrant CAME TO HAND on the day of 20__,at —M. and was EXECUTED in County, Texas on the day oF to M.by taking Wanya Kasean Smith into custody and transporting the person to as commanded, ‘The distance actually traveled by me in the execution of this process was __miles and my fees are Officer's Name and Title COPY Officers Sinatae J Travis County Sheriff's Office Report Number # 23-2500653 9)COPY DOCKET NUMBER D1DC23100099 THE STATE OF TEXAS § IN THE AUSTIN CITY MUNICIPAL COURT v. § WANYA KASEAN SMITH § CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT AEFIDAVIT AND APPLICATION FOR ARREST WARRANT The Undersigned Affiant, who aftr being duly sworn by me, on oath, makes the following statement: {have reason to belicve and do believe that: Wanya Kasean Smith , DOB: 02/27/2002 did then and there, ‘on or about 09-07-2023 at 1720 W Wells Branch Pkwy #4306 commit the offense of: Murder~ (Ist Degree Felony) The Affiant, Detective Paul Salo, has been employed with the Travis County Sheriff's Office since 2000 and assigned to Homicide investigations since 2009.TCSO offices are located at 555 Airport Blvd, Austin, Travis County, Texas 78751. Affant has the experience of being involved with and supervising numerous criminal investigations and has received specialized traning to conduct such investigations, ‘The events described below occurred in Travis County, Texas. Affiant has been involved in the investigation of TCSO case #23-2500653. On Thursday, September 7, 2023, at about 5:17 PM, Travis County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) deputies were dispatched to the Milan apartments located at 1720 West Wells Branch Parkway #4306, Travis County, Texas 78728 regarding a check welfare. Deputies were asked to check on the welfare of Precious Angel Rucker, B/F, DOB: 06-28-1983 and the caller was the employee relations director for the ‘company where Precious was an employee who worked remotely. The caller stated Precious had not logged in for work, nor had she answered her phone, which were unusual While TCSO deputies were responding, they also contacted Precious’ brother, Runel Smith, B/M, DOB: 10-27-1987 by phone and Rune! stated he also had not been able to reach Precious by phone, He alse h: been contacted by Precious’ employer. Rune! contacted their brother, Roderick Smith-Davis, B/M, DOB: 07-07-1991, who lives near Precious to go to her apartment to check on her. Deputies learned Precious also lives with two additional brothers, Jonel Smith, B/M, DOB: 01-15-1994 and Wanya Kasean * Sean’ Smith, B/M, DOB: 02-27-2002. Roderick arrived at the apartment at about 6:30 PM and found the front door unlocked, which was tunusual. He entered the apartment and found Precious deceased on her bedroom floor. Roderick alerted Jonel, who was asleep in his bedroom on the opposite end of the apartment. Sean was not atthe residence, family members were unable to reach Sean by phone, and his whereabouts were not known. Deputies arrived on scene and noted Precious had obvious tratuma to her face. EMS responded and Precious was pronounced deceased at 6:45 PM. The Affiant was the on-call detective contacted to respond tothe scene as lead detective. Other detectives also responded to assist. Affiant arrived and observed Precious on her bedroom floor with several obvious lacerations to her face, which appeared to have been made with a sharp object or cutting instrument, ‘There was a bloody area on the carpet underneath her and there was also a section of the carpet that ¢ ‘Travis County Sheriff's Office Report Number # 23-2500653,COPY looked as though blood had been cleaned up. Additionally, there were household cleaning products and latex gloves just a few feet away from Precious’ body on a dresser and on her bed. There were no signs of forced entry into the apartment. The Affiant spoke with Jonel, who confirmed he, Precious, and Sean live in the apartment. He advised he and Precious have their own separate bedrooms and Sean sleeps in the living room. Due to their work schedules, Jonel had not seen Precious since Tuesday (September 5, 2023). Jonel said today at about 9:00 AM, he was awakened by Sean knocking on his bedroom door. Sean told Jonel he was just checking on him, which Jonel said was unusual, Jonel then scheduled a food delivery for later in the day and went back to sleep. Jonel’s food delivery arrived about 2:15 PM and he locked the front door after the delivery. He noticed the bathroom light was on. Jonel ate his food and stated Sean asked him to unplug the ethernet cable. Jonel then went back to sleep. He stated he did not wake up again until about 6:30 PM when Roderick was yelling that Precious was dead. He went to Precious’ bedroom and saw her deceased on the floor. Sean was not at the apartment. Jonel also stated Sean did not have a key to the apartment, so he would not have been able to lock the door upon leaving. The Affiant spoke with Roderick who advised he had learned from Runel that she had not logged in for work. He tried contacting Precious between about 4:00 and 5:00 PM today on her cell phone and the text responses Roderick received were not worded how Precious normally would, leading him to believe she was not the one actually responding, Roderick then tried contacting Sean on his cell phone, but a recording came on advising the number was no fonger in service. Runel informed detectives after being contacted by Precious’ employer today, he contacted Sean through Facetime at 4:27 PM. Their conversation lasted 14 minutes. He advised it appeared Sean was at the apartment during their conversation, Runel asked Sean where Precious was and Sean responded by asking, “Why, what's wrong?” Sean then stated Precious had left only 45 minutes prior in order to get her nails done, Runel said he told Sean that he needed to do something other than play video games, get a job, and get his life together. Runel continued trying to reach Precious on her cell phone and then also tried but he received no response. In an effort to get a response from Sean, at 6:24 PM, Runel texted Sean advising him thatthe police were on the way to the apartment. Runel received no response. He stated Sean did not have a vehicle, was afraid to drive, and would typically walk or use ride-share if he needed to travel. When Affiant and detectives arrived on scene, family members stated they were no longer able to reach Sean by phone and they were now blocked from his social media contacting Sean again on his cell phone, accounts. A search warrant for the apartment was obtained and the following was learned during the search Upon examination of the section of the carpet near Precious’ body where it looked as though blood had been cleaned up, and the underside of the carpet and the carpet padding underneath had large areas of apparent blood. This indicated a significant portion of the top surface had been cleaned, but the blood had soaked through to the underside of the carpet and padding, There were areas of blood spatter on the lower portion of the inside of the bedroom door and the lower portion of the wall near this section of carpet. This indicated to the Affiant that Precious was involved in a violent altercation inside her bedroom, Additionally, on Precious’ bed was a metal hand saw and a new box of black trash bags. On the counter in the bathroom attached to Precious’ bedroom was the protective sleeve for this metal hand saw. In the bathtub was a gray tarp that had been partially unfolded to the dimensions of the bathtub, and an additional gray tarp that was still in its sealed package. A ffiant knows that these items are not commonly found in a bedroom or bathroom and their presence near Precious’ body leads Affiant to believe preparations were being made to dispose of her body. ‘Travis County Sheriff's Office Report Number # 23-2500653~ v COPY Affiantalso observed in a drawer in the living room near Sean’s bed was Precious’ cell phone. Once the Medical Examiner Investigator arrived, Precious’ body was further assessed. The Affiant ‘observed the lacerations to her fa ce, as previously stated, as well as a laceration to the top of her head. She Tae tsa broken fingernails. There was also @ white electrical cord on her neck, with a corresponding Uigature mark on her neck below the cord. There were freshly damaged teeth inside her mouth and cre ‘Wat also missing a tooth. A loose tooth was located on the carpet near Precious’ body. A piece of glass With apparent blood on it and numerous additional pieces of glass were located throughout the flosr ofthe bedroom. These appeared to be from a broken glass candle jar that was located on the floor next to, Precious’ body. I appeared to the Affant that Precious may have been struck repeatedly with the glass ‘candle jar, causing it to shatter, and also causing the lacerations to het face. Zhe broken fingernails on Precious’ hands were not consistent with Sean's statement to Runel that Precious had just left to go get her nails done. ‘The apartment was checked for the source of the wl ite electrical cord and in the hall closet was a clothes ‘ron that had its white electrical cord cut off matching the one that was wrapped around Precines” aoe, {ke Affiant spoke with Jone! and asked about the metal hand saw and the tarps, Jonel advised he did not {know anything about these items and stated they would not have any use for them eines they lived in an apartment. Trouah further investigation, Detectives were able to locate a transaction conducted with Precious’ credit Ear aot September 6, 2023 atthe Walmart at 12900 North 1-35. This was a delivery order placed at 3:27 PM for delivery to the apartm jet for numerous items, to include a PSS gaming console ($499.00), a PSS headset ($99.00), the metal hand saw ($8.38), the two tarps ($22.74), and tape ($12.68). The Affiant believes this purchase was made after Precious was deceased, Autopsy on Precious was conducted on September 8, 2023 and the Affiant learned from the Medical Examiner she had several incised wounds to her face and neck, contusions to hes face. an incision-stretch fractures of the thyroid cartilage, ‘The Affiant believes Sean intentionally ly and knowingly inflicted ser include strangling her with an electric ious bodily to his sister Precious, to cord, which ultimately caused her death, Lad Qube Paul Salo Affant Travis County Sheriffs Office Report Number # 23-2500653SWORN AND SUBSCRIBED before me on this 08 day of Sep, 2023 C 0 P Y stan kerr County of Travis, Texas CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT. MAGISTRATE’S DETERMINATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE 1 foregoing Affidavit and Aj The pplication was submitted to me by the said affiant on this O8 day of Sep, 2023, » at 03:52 PM . 1 find that there is suficient Probable Cause to support the arrest of the acooced. he te stan kerr County of Travis, Texas CITY OF AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT Signed by the said affiant, submitted to me by reliable electronic mean s, and subsequently sworn to by the said affiant before me through an electronic broadcast system. Travis County Sheriffs Office Report Number # 23-2500653