LAURENS, S.C.; June 16, 2025 – A Greenville man is headed to prison for more than four decades following his conviction last week in Laurens County on charges stemming from an incident where he shot and killed his fiancé who was pregnant with his child, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Monday.
Camrin Jay Smith, 25, of Greenville, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and one count of possession of an illegal sawed-off rifle. A Laurens County jury returned guilty verdicts on each of the charges last Friday afternoon following a weeklong trial.
Circuit Judge R. Kirk Griffin then sentenced Smith to 45 years in prison on each of the murder charges, 10 years in prison on the illegal rifle charge, and five years in prison on the additional weapon charge. By law, sentences for murder in South Carolina must be served day-for-day, meaning Smith will not be eligible for parole. All sentences are to be served concurrently.
Two days after Thanksgiving 2023 police were summoned to a residence along Highway 14 in Laurens following a report of an accidental gunshot. When deputies arrived, they found 24-year-old Grace Ables lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to her chest. Ables was about seven months pregnant at the time of the shooting. Initially, Smith claimed the gun went off accidentally. It was later determined that Smith intentionally pulled the trigger and waited an undetermined amount of time before calling 911 and only after making a call to his father. Both Ables and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.
Assistant Solicitors Elizabeth Able Finch, Mary Madison Driggers, and Cameron Cleveland prepared the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigators Joey Pittman, Tyrone Goggins, and Jeremiah Sinclair, and 8th Circuit Victim Advocate Lauren Powers. Smith was represented by Jake Erwin and Madison Johnston of the Greenville County bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff, along with Laurens County Sheriff Don Reynolds and his deputies, particularly Investigators Steven Sweat and Jonathan Brown, for their work in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“It’s difficult for most fathers to wrap their heads around hurting their child or the child’s mother, especially going into a weekend where we celebrate fathers and the sacrifices they make for their families,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “Clearly, Camrin Smith did not have what it took to be a dedicated father and, instead, killed his fiancé and their unborn child. I am pleased that today, on the day Grace should be turning 26, we can announce a lengthy prison sentence for Camrin Smith and allow Grace’s family begin to gain some closure from this horrific, life-altering event.”