By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Authorities on Monday identified a woman found dead last week alongside an eastern Rowan County road as 33-year-old Amanda Kay Smith and said her home was burned earlier that same day.

Two people have been charged in her slaying.

Timothy Clarence Smith Jr., 30, of Kannapolis, and Stephanie Hall, 30, of Salisbury, are each charged with first-degree murder and second-degree arson. They were arrested Sunday in Horry County, S.C.

Timothy Smith is not related to Amanda Smith, authorities said.

Around 6:30 a.m. Friday, authorities received a call that a body was lying on the side of the 3000 block of Leonard Road, near High Rock Lake. Emergency personnel were dispatched to provide aid, but Amanda Smith was already dead. Her body was partially burned.

Lt. Chad Moose of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said Smith was murdered in another location and brought to the 3000 block of Leonard Road.

At roughly the same time as Smith’s body was found, her mobile home at 245 Honeysuckle Lane was destroyed by a fire. Sheriff’s Office detectives determined the fire to be deliberately set. Smith had been murdered and her house intentionally set on fire.

An investigation led sheriff’s deputies to Timothy Clarence Smith Jr. and Stephanie Hall. In their investigation, sheriff’s deputies discovered that Amanda Smith was last seen with Timothy Smith and Hall at an unnamed location in Salisbury. However, deputies were unable to find Timothy Smith or Hall over the weekend in Rowan County.

Timothy Smith and Hall were arrested near Myrtle Beach in Horry County, S.C. early Sunday. Moose said officers in Horry County attempted to stop the pair in a stolen car. Moose said the pair wrecked the vehicle during the pursuit.

Timothy Smith and Hall are were being held Monday in Horry County, but will be returned to Rowan to face the charges.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.