HOUSTON – The reward has been increased for information that leads to the arrest of a Brazoria County woman who is charged with hiring a man to kill her husband nearly 14 years ago.
Margaret Lorrain Smith, who would now be 62 years old, has been wanted since allegedly fleeing during her capital murder case in 2009. She is listed as one of Texas’ 10 most wanted fugitives.
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Texas Crime Stoppers’ reward in her case has increased to $8,500 during the month of September.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Margaret Smith is accused of luring her husband George Smith to Surfside Beach late on Aug. 6, 2007. While he was sitting in the sand alone, a man she authorities claim she hired beat George Smith to death with a metal object.
Both Margaret Smith and the man who beat George Smith were indicted for capital murder the next month.
The hitman was convicted, but Smith is said to have been on the run since Aug. 11, 2009, when she fled while out on bond ahead of her trial.
The last known sighting of Smith was at a Walmart in San Antonio when she was reportedly seen getting into a maroon four-door sedan, possibly a Lincoln Continental.
The description of Smith released in the Texas Department of Safety is as follows:
- HEIGHT: 5 feet, 6 inches tall
- WEIGHT: About 185 pounds
- Mole on the bottom of her right eyelid
- Often dyes her hair naturally dark, has curly hair, or wears wigs
- Goes by Margaret of Lorrain
Tipsters can be eligible for cash rewards by providing information to authorities using one of these three methods:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252 TIPS (8477).
- Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about and clicking on the link under their picture.
- Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section).
The Texas Department of Public Safety warns the public that no one should attempt to apprehend fugitives themselves. All tips are anonymous, with tipsters being assigned a tip number so they don’t have to provide a name.
In addition to the Texas Crime Stoppers $8,500 reward in this case, $5,000 is also being offered through Brazoria County Crime Stoppers.