The Gazebo Gazette

GULFPORT (GG) — On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Angel “Lexy” May Pierce of Biloxi, pled guilty at the Harrison County Courthouse to First-Degree Murder and Armed Robbery for the July 3, 2022 murder of her best friend, Cody Smith. Judge Steve Simpson sentenced Pierce to Life consecutive for 30 years to serve in prison. A co-defendant in Pierce’s case is set for trial in late April. 

“Cody Smith’s body was located by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office in DeLisle after they received a missing person tip from the police department, and Private Investigator Cory Seal. Cody was last seen in Harrison County in July 2022 with Pierce and a co-defendant. Cody Smith’s body was subsequently located by Harrison County Deputies in a decomposed state ten  months after the homicide,” said Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel, who prosecuted the case. 

Prior to sentencing, Pierce addressed the Court “I want to apologize to Cody Smith’s family and friends. Nobody should lose and bury their son. Cody was always there for me, and I betrayed  his trust. I am haunted by Cody’s murder.” Judge Simpson pressed Pierce on the facts, and asked,  “What made you feel compelled to be a part of something like this?” Pierce replied, “I was angry about a lot of things, and I was on drugs. It should have never happened.” 

During the sentencing hearing, Cody’s mother, Cherie Smith, spoke and stated, “Cody had an impact on more lives than I even realized, and some of them are here today. Cody was able to meet his niece when she was little, but she’ll never know him. I always wondered what he would look like as he grew older. We looked forward to meeting the girl that he felt was special enough to marry, and we couldn’t wait to hold and play with their baby, the grandbaby we’ll never have.  Lexy took all that away from us. Nothing will make this better.”  

 “I want to commend the Investigators with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Had it not been for their sense of urgency and skilled investigation, this could have easily become a cold case. Cody was a young man who had so much life in front of him, and his killing was  senseless. There are still other defendants being prosecuted for their roles, but the 30 years on top of a Life sentence handed down by the Court will hopefully assist the family in the healing process,” said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.