A horrific incident took place in California where Vanroy Evan Smith, a 39-year-old man, has been accused of fatally running over and stabbing Dr. Michael John Mammone, a 58-year-old ER doctor. Smith claimed to be “God and Jesus Christ” during a rambling jailhouse interview with the Orange County Register.
On February 1, Dr. Mammone was traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point when Smith allegedly struck him with his Lexus from behind. The impact flung Mammone into the air and landed him in an intersection, and it was caught on tape by a surveillance camera. Witnesses reported that Smith possessed a BB gun when he approached the injured doctor and stabbed him with a huge knife.
During the jailhouse interview, Smith gave a shocking confession, saying, “I have killed. They would let me leave this building if they knew who I was. They would satisfy all of my wants.” He further claimed that if people knew he was the “King of Kings,” they would regard his alleged crimes differently. Smith cited scripture and claimed he had no misgivings about his actions because he was “God and Jesus Christ.”
Smith has denied using a lethal weapon and pleaded not guilty to murder charges despite his confession. He is being held in an Orange County jail on a $1 million bond and is scheduled to go before a judge on Tuesday. Smith claimed “it was his right” to kill Mammone during his questioning in the jailhouse because “he was in the crosswalk and presented himself.” Smith also denied having any mental health issues.
According to Long Beach Police, on December 19, 2020, Smith was placed on a 5150 hold after attacking a friend. Smith also admitted to using marijuana, heavy drinking, and visiting sex workers. He claimed Mammone’s death was “minuscule” compared to Jesus killing thousands of people with the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devasted Turkey and Syria.
Dr. Mammone was taken to one of the nearby hospitals where he had worked as a doctor, Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he subsequently passed away. Smith, who is of mixed race, denied using the racial epithet “white privilege” as has been claimed. He vowed not to kill again if he was let out of prison. Marla Hart, Smith’s ex-wife, reportedly told The Post that she doesn’t understand why Smith would kill someone. They have twin girls and, according to her, have been divorced for ten years.
The incident is a stark reminder that mental health issues can have disastrous consequences if left untreated. We must ensure that people suffering from mental health issues receive timely and appropriate treatment to prevent such incidents. Our hearts go out to Dr. Mammone’s family and loved ones, and we hope that justice is served in this case.