(UPDATED) MURFREESBORO, TN - Malik D. Smith is scheduled to appear in court later this month to face charges of first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to go armed, stemming from a fatal stabbing that occurred in February 2023… That was Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Trevor Lynch.

The victim, 31-year-old Phillip Maddox, Jr., reportedly lived with Smith at a transitional housing facility on Ransom Drive in Murfreesboro. The residence, known as Freedom Recovery House, serves individuals in early recovery from addiction, offering a stable environment as residents gain employment and begin reintegration. Maddox was fatally stabbed inside that home on the night of February 13, 2023.

Smith was detained for questioning by detectives on the night of the stabbing. By 4:00 AM the next morning — Valentine’s Day — he was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center in Murfreesboro, where he has remained in custody ever since.

In March 2025, the court ordered a mental health evaluation for Smith, followed by a continuance to allow time for assessment. Under Tennessee Code Title 33, individuals found incompetent to stand trial may be committed to a mental health facility for pre-trial treatment. These facilities are required to submit reports to the court every six months. If the treatment successfully restores competency, legal proceedings resume. If not, continued commitment may be ordered.

Smith, now 26, is represented by attorney Whitney Raque (pronounced Rocky). A status hearing is scheduled for May 29, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the Circuit Courtroom of Judge James Turner. The hearing will likely address the outcome of the mental health evaluation and set a trial date.

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