Bend man arraigned on second-degree murder indictment in mother’s killing, set to enter plea April 18

(Updating with video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 40-year-old Bend man was arraigned Thursday on a second-degree murder indictment in last week’s killing of his mother at the apartment they shared.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Randy Miller set an April 18 plea hearing for Joshua Lawrence Smith, who was arrested last week after officers responded to a reported domestic disturbance at the Legacy Landing Apartments on NE Tucson Way.

Officers performed CPR on his critically injured mother, Janice Marie Smith, 59, but she died at the scene. District Attorney Steve Gunnels told us the woman apparently died of blunt force trauma after a “violent physical interaction” between the mother and son.

The grand jury indictment, filed Wednesday, shed no new light on what transpired, only that Smith "did unlawfully and intentionally" cause his mother's death, in conduct that "constituted domestic violence."

Smith appeared by video from jail for Thursday’s brief arraignment. When asked by the judge, he said at first he didn’t have his indictment in hand, but the papers were quickly provided to him.

A prosecutor asked for no change in Smith's status, as he remains held without bail. Smith’s defense attorney waived reading of the charges, a customary step, and also raised no objection or conflict when the prosecutor said he'd learned Smith had been his client when he previously worked in the public defender’s office.