Patrick Shawn Smith, 49 and from North Carolina, was fatally shot in the early morning of October 30, 2021, outside the Sands Ocean Club Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Authorities classified the death as a homicide and described it as the result of a robbery that went wrong.

Investigators say Smith had recently met 28-year-old Katerena Bedjan while she was auditioning as a dancer at an adult entertainment club. The two arranged for her to spend the weekend with him in Myrtle Beach. Prosecutors say Bedjan communicated with 18-year-old Leo Watkins, telling him Smith would be carrying a large amount of cash and would be an easy target. In the pre-dawn hours, while Smith and Bedjan were in her car, Bedjan allegedly texted Watkins their location. Watkins approached armed with a 9mm pistol, demanded Smith’s wallet, and shot him once when Smith resisted.

Both Bedjan and Watkins were arrested. Bedjan later pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and received a 15-year sentence. Watkins pleaded guilty to murder and attempted armed robbery and was sentenced to 40 years for murder with a concurrent 20-year term for attempted armed robbery, with no parole eligibility. Does anyone have information about Smith’s movements in Myrtle Beach that weekend or recall seeing him near the Sands Ocean Club Resort on October 30, 2021?