NC NC - Neely Smith, 5, Charlotte, 18 Feb 1981

[TallCoolOne]

Has there been any news regarding progress on Neely's case?

Keeping the faith,

~TCO~

 

[Richard]

The case is still considered open and "unsolved". However, Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. is the most likely and only suspect to my knowledge.

Coffey is serving a life sentence in North Carolina for murdering Amanda Ray, age 10. In his first trial he was sentenced to death, but in a resentencing (different jury), during which mention of other numerous convictions of crimes against children were not heard, he was sentenced to life, with the possibility of parole.

 

[Richard]

Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. was transferred on 27 June 2023 from Pender Prison to Greene Correctional Institution.

Greene Correctional Institution is a designated reentry facility, where a variety of programs and services are offered to assist offenders nearing their release dates to transition back to their communities.

Coffey has come up for parole numerous times and has always been turned down by the Parole Board. Hopefully this move is not in anticipation of Coffey being released into society.

 

[TallCoolOne]

I sincerely hope that man only leaves the confines of prison in a pine box.

 

[Richard]

Little Neely Smith, age 5 years old, was brutally murdered over 45 years ago.

The strongest suspect in the case is Fred Howard Coffey, Jr. Who is housed at taxpayer expense in the North Carolina prison system for the murder of 10 year old Amanda Ray.

Coffey has come up for parole numerous times since his death sentence was commuted to "life".