BRUNSWICK, Ga. — Pictures and candles now sit on the porch of Derrick Smith's home. Police say they found his body inside the home Monday. They say he was assaulted. Family and friends say he did not deserve to die like that.
"My whole mind went blank. I was shocked. I just paused for like 20 seconds. I just couldn't get myself together," said Estella Ramsey.
Ramsey said those 20 seconds felt like hours when she found out someone killed her friend Smith or 'Boston,' which is what family and friends called him.
“My sister told me. She walked around here when everything was going on. She told me they had his house roped off,” said Ramsey.
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Brunswick police found Smith’s body inside the home Monday. Captain Kevin Jones said family members reported him missing last Thursday after not hearing from Smith for days.
“Officers went to his house a couple of times, went to his doors, knocked on his windows didn’t see anything,” said Jones.
Jones said they went back to the home Monday with the family and forced their way inside.
"Officers made entry inside the house and located Mr. Smith deceased from assault," said Jones.
Tuesday, Ramsey and Smith's daughter went back to the home and now they're forced to face the reality that someone killed Smith, leaving them with some pictures and a lot of memories.
"Boston was a good man. He didn't bother anybody. If you needed a helping hand, he was there. If you needed food he had it," Ramsey said.
Family members believe they know who killed Smith. Police say they interviewed several people, but have not made an arrest.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.