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ROCK HILL, SC · PIEDMONT EDITION · TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
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Fort Mill Resident Denied Bail in Fatal Rock Hill Crash

Published September 21, 2026 at 9:40 pm | By Hannah Ford, Staff Reporter

Fort Mill Resident Denied Bail in Fatal Rock Hill Crash

A Fort Mill resident, Joel Laron Smith, 22, has again been denied bail by Judge Bill McKinnon. This decision comes two months after an initial bail denial. Smith faces potential charges of felony DUI resulting in death and reckless homicide, which could lead to a sentence of up to 35 years if he is convicted.

The charges stem from a crash on Celanese Road in Rock Hill on February 27, which resulted in the death of Marybeth Robinson, 43, an Indian Land resident and mother of two. Rock Hill police added the felony DUI charge after receiving a State Law Enforcement Division report this week.

The report indicated that Smith allegedly had both THC and kratom in his system at the time of the crash. Additionally, Smith allegedly possessed a gun in the vehicle, which he was prohibited from having due to a prior drug conviction.

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Hannah Ford
HERE Rock Hill · NEWS

Hannah is a staff reporter for HERE Rock Hill covering local news, community stories, and developments across York County. Hannah is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.

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