Motive force accused of killing OC bike owner suffered psychological breakdown, crowd say

Within the years earlier than he was once charged with operating and stabbing an Orange County bike owner in a stunning and reputedly spontaneous attack, Vanroy Evan Smith struggled with psychological fitness problems, in line with his crowd and court docket data.

In a movement filed in Los Angeles County Admirable Court docket in December in quest of complete custody in their two kids, Smith’s ex-wife wrote that the 39-year-old have been “diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder”.

A crowd member, who spoke to The Instances on situation of anonymity because of fears for his protection, stated the analysis got here upcoming a 2020 incident that drew police to Smith’s Lengthy Seashore house. On this incident, Smith allegedly attacked his pal, who was once looking to subdue him all through a psychological fitness episode, in line with the relative. Smith was once hospitalized and exempted upcoming a couple of days.

“He attacks, not realizing that we are trying to help him,” the relative stated.

In kid custody papers, Smith’s ex-wife wrote that he “destroyed property in his home during a violent mental health episode.”

On December 19, 2020, Lengthy Seashore law enforcement officials have been referred to as at roughly 12:12 p.m. to Smith’s house at the 6400 stop of Atlantic Street upcoming receiving studies of a “violent and mentally ill person” , in line with a abstract of the decision bought. by way of The Instances.

“Upon arrival, officers contacted an adult male subject who was inside a residence causing property damage and was involved in an altercation with an acquaintance,” in line with the abstract.

Firefighters took Smith to health center, the place he was once put on ‘waiting 5150’, that means he was once held for 72 hours upcoming being suspected of being a threat to himself or others because of a psychological fitness illness.

Now Smith is suspected of hitting Dr. Michael John Mammone, 58, along with his white Lexus on Feb. 1 past Mammone was once using his motorbike in Dana Level, Orange County Sheriff’s officers stated. Smith upcoming were given out of the auto and many times stabbed Mammone with a knife, government stated.

Mammone died at Windfall Venture Clinic in Venture Viejo, the place he now and again labored as an crisis doctor, deputies stated.

Smith was once pinned down by way of bystanders, who had rushed to backup Mammone upcoming the assault, government stated. A knife believed to were worn within the assault was once recovered from the scene.

Investigators are ignorant of a connection between Smith and Mammone and are nonetheless looking to resolve what brought on the attack.

“An innocent man died because he was riding his bike to enjoy a beautiful California day along the beach and was hit by a car and stabbed to death by someone he apparently never met,” stated Orange County Dist. Atti. Todd Spitzer stated in a press let fall utmost pace. “Killing a total stranger in broad daylight for what seems like absolutely no reason is a nightmare.”

Smith pleaded no longer responsible on Friday to a homicide price and an enhanced sentence alleging private importance of a dreadful weapon, Orange County Admirable Court docket data display. Smith, who’s indexed as unemployed in jail data, is being hung on $1 million bond.

If convicted, Smith faces a most sentence of 25 years to year in jail.

Smith was once born and raised in Jamaica and moved to the US round 2008 upcoming getting married, the crowd member stated. Nearest his separation in 2012, he stayed within the Lengthy Seashore department to deal with his kids. Smith had his personal accounting industry and lived isolated.

Alexander Solhi, whose regulation company is in the similar development as Smith’s accounting industry, stated Smith treated his company’s accounting for no less than two years. Smith attended two of the corporate’s Christmas events and now and again went out to dinner with Solhi, he stated.

“He was a very polite and nice guy,” Solhi stated. “He didn’t seem like a violent guy. There were no dangerous propensities that would stand out. That’s why I was quite shocked to see that he was the one doing this. Certainly completely out of character.

In late 2019 and early 2020, Solhi said, Smith seemed increasingly tense.

“He looked very stressed and uncomfortable in his own skin,” Sohli stated. “I couldn’t tell if it was work-related. He had two children, but it seemed like things were very quiet between him and his ex-wife.

Solhi last saw Smith about a year ago, when Smith told her he was leaving the building and going to work from home.

Smith’s family member who spoke to The Times said he hadn’t seen Smith since Thanksgiving. Two days before Mammone’s murder, the family member said, they contacted Smith via text message to check in.

“I said, ‘Can we do something? We want to help you,” the mum or dad stated. “He was very calm and said, ‘No, I’m fine. I’ll let you know if I need help. That was it.”

The crowd is devastated by way of what came about.

“The person he was is gone,” stated a crowd member of Smith. “There is no turning back from this situation.”

Mammone’s pals and crowd, in the meantime, have struggled with the lack of their liked one and are nonetheless on the lookout for solutions.

Dr. William Dodge changed into alike pals with Mammone past the 2 labored within the crisis branch at Windfall Venture Clinic in Laguna Seashore.

Mammone coated evening shifts and earned a name as a balanced, thorough, and sort physician.

“He had a reputation as a nice guy, a cool guy who would bend over backwards for his patients and go the extra mile,” Dodge stated.

“The entire Mission Hospital family mourns the loss of an incredible doctor and friend,” health center officers wrote in a commentary utmost pace. “We can honor Dr. Mammone’s determination to our nation and his interest for medication.