Nanette Smith dies in fatal Baldwin County attack

Nanette Smith dies in fatal Baldwin County attack

Fatal Baldwin County attack death of Nanette Smith

Nanette Smith, age 67, was fatally assaulted in Baldwin County, Alabama, on the night of June 14, 2025, in what authorities are describing as an unprovoked attack.

The incident also left her husband, Noel Smith, injured. Both victims were found with severe trauma at their home on Dominion Drive in an unincorporated area of Fairhope. The suspected assailant is their 38-year-old son, Ryan Thomas Smith, who was living at the residence.

Investigators recovered the murder weapon, believed to have caused blunt force injuries, though the medical examiner is conducting a full examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Ryan Smith fled the scene, prompting law enforcement to issue an All-Points Bulletin for his vehicle. Deputies pursued Smith on I-65 into Escambia County, where a specialized grappling device was deployed to safely end the chase and apprehend him.

Smith was charged with murder and attempted murder and appeared in court on June 16, 2025. District Judge Ashley Siebert set his bond at $1 million, citing the violent nature of the crimes and Smith’s flight from law enforcement. Prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of charging him with capital murder as the investigation continues.

Authorities noted that Ryan Smith had previous misdemeanor domestic violence charges involving his parents in 2022 and 2023, but a motive for this latest violent episode has not been established.

Smith has 30 days to request a preliminary hearing while the investigation remains ongoing.