Sarasota County Woman Charged in Murder of Ex’s Girlfriend

Sarasota County authorities have charged Morgan Jane Smith of North Port with premeditated murder and attempted murder relating to a shooting over the weekend. Prosecutors allege that Smith pointed a 20-gauge shotgun at Andrea Stranko, the current girlfriend of Smith’s ex-boyfriend, Darryl Smith. Darryl Smith reportedly jumped in front of Stranko to protect her and was hit in the shoulder but failed to keep Stranko from being hit in the chest. She died at the scene.

Darryl Smith, father of Morgan Smith’s 12-year-old daughter, was treated a hospital but is expected to make a full recovery.

Less than 48 hours prior to the shooting, North Port police responded to a call that Morgan Smith was suicidal, but found her to have a calm demeanor, determined that she posed no threat to herself and did not require emergency hospitalization.

Four months ago, Morgan Smith was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for allegedly attacking Stranko with a hatchet. She was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Smith pled not guilty to that charge on March 13 and was scheduled for a pretrial hearing in late April.

Morgan Smith now faces charges of premeditated murder and attempted murder. She is being held in the Sarasota County jail without bail. Her court date is April 23.

Police say that Morgan Smith parked her car near Darryl Smith and Stranko’s house in the early hours of Sunday and waited for them to come home from a neighbor’s gathering. As the walked to their house, according to police, Morgan Smith approached them and shot. Neighbors who were outside when the shooting occurred reportedly pinned Smith down until police arrived.

Prosecutors will now decide whether to seek the death penalty against Morgan Smith with regard to the first-degree/premeditated murder charge.