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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Deja vu in Uptown Charlotte Thursday morning. Β Angelo Grayson Smith, Junior, released from police custody just hours before he was re-arrested for first degree murder in the killing of his girlfriend, Bianca Tanner. Β His only words to reporters ThursdayΒ were, “I’m sorry, right now.”Β
Police say a witness led investigators to a wooded area off Calico Crossing Lane in southwest Charlotte around 12am Thursday. Β After searching for four hours in the darkness of early morning, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe said, “We have located what we believe to be the remains of Ms. Tanner.”
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Passersby were disturbed by the discovery. Β One woman tells WCCB, “We walk at lunch time up and down this road, and it’s just sad that there was somebody here and we never knew it.”
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Tanner’s family is not speaking publicly yet, but in a social media post, they say, “Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. The family asks for privacy as they try to deal with this senseless tragedy.”
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A source with knowledge of the investigation tells WCCB Smith confessed to detectives that he killed Tanner before reporting her missing June 8. Β The source says Smith claims he choked Tanner to death. Β Police declined to discuss whether Tanner’s remains revealed any visible injuries.
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Tanner’s presumed remains are now at the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office. Β WCCB has requested autopsy, investigatory and toxicology reports. Those documents will confirm her cause of death.Β
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In the meantime, Smith’s attorneys Ken Snow and Karen Dula have declined to speak about the first degree murder charge their client now faces. Β Snow suggested earlier this week CMPD spent a lot of time interviewing his client and wasn’t “totally focused” on looking for Tanner. Β “The detectives that were involved in this case, never stopping, never not believing, that we would bring this case to a conclusion, my hat’s off to them,” says ChiefΒ Monroe.Β
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Police are still asking anyone with information about this case to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
