On Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, 44-year-old Billy Lee Smith was found guilty in a McDowell County trial by jury of the following charges:
• Felony Second Degree Kidnapping (Habitual Felon Status)
• Felony Breaking and/or Entering (Habitual Felon Status)
• Felony Escape from State Prison (Habitual Felon Status)
Smith was sentenced to a minimum 402 months to a maximum 520 months in prison.
On Feb. 7, 2024, Smith walked away from a worksite at Marion Correctional Institution while on work release from Rutherford Correctional Facility, where he was serving time as a low-level offender.
Following the escape, Smith forced his way into the home of a female in Marion, abducted her and forced her to take him to Asheville. He later released the female and fled into a wooded area in Buncombe County where he was subsequently arrested.
Along with the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office assisting agencies included the Marion Police Department, McDowell County Emergency Management, the US Marshal Service, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Asheville Police Department, NC DMV License and Theft Bureau, NC State Highway Patrol, the McDowell County Rescue Squad, NC Department of Adult Corrections and the NC State Bureau of Investigation.
Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan thanked all involved including the men and women from the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, all assisting agencies, and District Attorney Ted Bell and his team for bringing this case to a successful conclusion.
“While this was a dangerous situation for our community, I’m proud of the teamwork and dedication shown by our deputies and partner agencies. This sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and the commitment to protecting our citizens.”
Chief Deputy Nathan Mace also added in by stating that this case required “extensive coordination across multiple jurisdictions, and I commend everyone involved for their hard work and persistence.”