Norman Richard Smart on Wednesday was indicted on murder and related charges in the June 7 beating death of his wife at their Wilmington Island home.
Smart, 37, caused the death of Lauren Brown Smart “by beating her with his hands and feet,” the Chatham County grand jury said in returning a four-count indictment.
In addition to the malice murder count, the grand jury charged Smart with felony murder by causing his wife’s death during the commission of aggravated assault, another
felony; aggravated assault under the Family Violence Act and cruelty to a child by beating the child’s mother to death in a child’s presence.
Lauren Brown Smart, 34, died June 7 after she was found unable to breathe about 9 a.m. at the couple’s home on Walthour Road.
Norman Smart was initially arrested on an aggravated assault (domestic violence) charges, but that was upgraded to murder after a Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy showed she died of injuries suffered during an assault.
The Smarts had two children, ages 6 and younger than a year old, who are living with relatives.
Smart remains in the Chatham County jail without bond.