The Foley Police Department arrested Katie Lee Smith, 36, after a search.

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Foley Police Department (FPD) responded to a death investigation at the Town and Country Motel at 1401 N. McKenzie St, Foley. Officers found Shirley Smith, 69, deceased. The investigation determined the circumstances surrounding her death were suspicious. The FPD requested the assistance of the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit.

Over the past 24 hours, investigators determined through evidence at the scene and information gained from the autopsy that her death was a homicide. Smith’s daughter Katie Lee Smith was developed as a person of interest, and law enforcement officers have been searching for her since the investigation began.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 1, patrol deputies observed Katie Lee Smith leaving the office of the Town and County Motel, where she and her mother had been living and where the crime took place. Baldwin County deputies and Foley Police patrol officers attempted to contact and detain Katie Lee Smith, but she ran into the woods. After a short pursuit, she was taken into custody.

Katie Lee Smith was interviewed by investigators and arrested. Her current charges are criminal trespass in the first degree, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, attempting to elude and abuse of a corpse.

The Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit will continue to investigate and ask anyone with information about this case to contact the Baldwin County Major Crimes Unit at (251) 937-0202 or call the Foley Police Department at (251) 943-4431.