Marble Hill man given 15 years for murder after car crash

A Marble Hill, Mo., man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for his role in the death of Amanda Allenbaugh in 2012.

Allenbaugh was killed in a crash after a high-speed chase with police.

At the time of the crash, Donald Smith Jr., 35, was being pursued by an Advance, Mo., police officer for suspicious activity near a business in Advance. A chase ensued along Route O, when the officer discovered the crashed vehicle.

The 1999 Mercury was about 3 miles east of Advance when the vehicle left the road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's crash report. The car overturned, ejecting Smith and his passenger, Allenbaugh, 28, of De Soto, Mo.

Allenbaugh died at the scene. An ambulance transported Smith to Saint Francis Medical Center with serious injuries.

Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russell Oliver charged Smith with felony second-degree murder. The felony murder statute is in effect for this case because Allenbaugh's death occurred during the commission of a felony as Smith's chase was considered resisting arrest.

On Sept. 25, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Because he did not request a jury trial, sentencing was left in the hands of Judge Robert Mayer. Mayer sentenced Smith to serve 15 years in prison.

Because he pleaded guilty to felony murder, Smith will be ineligible for parole until he has served 85 percent of his sentence.

Pertinent address:

Advance, MO.