Paul Wayne Smith Jr., 33, of rural Browning was charged by the Fulton County State’s Attorney’s Office Friday afternoon with the Thursday murder of another rural Browning man, William R. Humphrey, 33.
Smith surrendered himself at the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 10:15 a.m. Friday after a two county search by Fulton and Schuyler County sheriff’s departments.
According to police reports, Humphrey and Smith had been drinking earlier Thursday and then had proceeded to the rural Browning home of Linda Keefer where they became involved in a fight. Humphrey’s head was, according to a Fulton County coroner’s report, “struck several times against the floor.”
Keefer then drove Humphrey to Astoria to call for help, but the Astoria rescue squad was unable to revive Humphrey. Fulton County Coroner George Kauzlarich pronounced Humphrey dead at the scene at 5:15 p.m. An autopsy later at Graham Hospital confirmed Humphrey died of a skull fracture and massive cerebral hemorrhage due to several blows to the head.
State’s Attorney Tom Horner said Friday since the majority of the search for Smith was conducted by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and the autopsy was performed at Graham Hospital, Schuyler County officials have recommended Smith be charged and held in Fulton County.
Smith was in the Fulton County jail late Friday in lieu of $500,000 bond, charged with murder.
Mr. Humphrey was born March 7, 1947, in Peoria, a son of Fred J. and Betty J. Wagner Humphrey.
He was a former resident of Peoria and had lived at rural Browning for three months.
Surviving are his parents of Peoria; three daughters, Jill Ann and Stephanie Humphrey, both of Peoria, and Sandy Humphrey of Brooklyn; two brothers, Howard L. and Harold L., both of East Peoria; one sister, Mrs. Gloria Belt of East Peoria; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 Sunday at Davison-Fulton Western Chapel, Peoria with Rev. Bobby Lounsberry officiating. Graveside services were at 11 a.m. Monday at Swan Lake Memory Gardens, Peoria.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus