Woman Charged with Carjacking After DNA Evidence Links Her to Vehicular Hijacking
A 35-year-old woman is facing carjacking charges after DNA evidence connected her to a vehicular hijacking that occurred over a year ago. Prosecutors allege that she was also involved in another carjacking just weeks after the DNA match was identified.
Johnetta Smith has been charged in connection with a vehicular hijacking that took place early on April 21, 2024, in the 10900 block of South Edbrooke.
According to court documents, the victim, a 45-year-old man, parked his black 2013 Cadillac CTS in an alley and stepped out of the vehicle to relieve himself when he was approached by two individuals, a woman and a man.
The woman entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle, while the male suspect got into the passenger seat. When the victim tried to intervene, the male carjacker allegedly pulled out a handgun and threatened him, saying, “You don’t want to die tonight.” The male suspect then took the victim’s wallet before both suspects fled in the stolen Cadillac.
Two days later, the abandoned vehicle was found in the 7100 block of South Ashland. Police processed the car for fingerprints and biological evidence, and on May 15, 2025, a DNA match linked swabs from the vehicle to Smith, who resides near the crime scene, according to prosecutors. The victim later identified Smith in a photo lineup as the woman who entered his car.
While a DNA match was also found for a male suspect, Smith identified that man as her armed accomplice. However, the victim could not identify the male suspect in a photo array, prosecutors stated.
Smith is facing charges of robbery and vehicular hijacking for the April 2024 incident. Prosecutors also allege that she was involved in another carjacking on May 29, 2025, just two weeks after the DNA match was established but before her arrest by police.
In the second incident, Smith was allegedly caught driving a 2013 Chevy Equinox that had been carjacked from a 71-year-old man in the 7100 block of South Ashland. She has been charged with vehicular hijacking, aggravated fleeing, aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance.
On June 2, 2025, Judge Lindsay Huge released Smith with a nighttime curfew and an ankle monitor. However, she failed to appear in court on June 18, according to court records. Chicago police arrested her six days later as she stood near 110th and State streets. Despite attempting to flee, she was quickly apprehended by officers.
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