Update to Death and Fire Investigation- 1700 block of Empress Ln

Published on April 02, 2026

Roberto E. Bryan Jr.

Chief of Police

Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sgt. A. Caldwell, Public Information Officer

Date: April 2, 2026 Phone: (910) 433-1487 OCA: 2026-006776

All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case, and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.

Update to Death and Fire Investigation

(Fayetteville, NC) - The Fayetteville Fire Department and the Fayetteville Police Department are conducting a joint investigation into a structure fire that resulted in the loss of life on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Detectives from the Fayetteville Police Department’s Homicide Unit assumed the investigation.

The decedent has been identified as Jamey Ruth Smith (Black female, 63 years of age) of Fayetteville, N.C.

The preliminary investigation revealed Jamey Smith and her son Maurice Anthony Briscoe Jr. (Black male, 41 years of age) of Fayetteville, N.C., were inside the residence at the time of the fire. Maurice Briscoe escaped the residence through a window without injury.

Detectives conducted multiple interviews, and a thorough investigation determined that the actions of Maurice Briscoe Jr. resulted in the fire that took his mother’s life.

Maurice Briscoe Jr. was arrested and charged with Involuntary Manslaughter. Briscoe Jr. is currently being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $25,000.00 secured bond.

There is no additional information to be released.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective J. Bergamine at (910) 705-2093.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Fayetteville / Cumberland County Crime Stoppers by calling (910) 483-TIPS (8477). CrimeStoppers information can also be submitted electronically, by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org and completing the anonymous online tip sheet, or by downloading the FREE “P3 Tips” app available for Apple devices in the Apple App Store and available for Android devices in Google Play.

Death and Fire Investigation

At approximately 2:34 pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, members of the fire department, police department, and emergency medical services responded to the 1700 block of Empress Lane for a reported structure fire. Upon arrival, first responders observed fire coming from the residence and began fire suppression. An adult male exited the residence from a window without injury. Fire department personnel entered the residence and located a female who had sustained injuries from the fire. Emergency Medical Service personnel transported the female to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

The identity of the deceased will be released upon confirmation of identity.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective J. Bergamine at (910) 705-2093.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty

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