The first 911 call in the killing of 24-year-old Neilyann Ysman came from her own 4-year-old daughter. According to court documents, the child told dispatchers, “My dad killed my mom,” and gave officers her father’s first name.
“It’s again a horrific thing for a child to witness any act of violence and certainly one of this order of magnitude, you just can’t, again, overstate how terrible that is,” said Brian Davidson, the Multnomah County deputy district attorney overseeing the homicide unit.
The suspect, 29-year-old Smate Joseph, now faces a murder charge. An affidavit alleges that Joseph himself also called 911, saying he had stabbed a “loved one” and was unsure if she had survived. Though he did not provide a street address, the house number he gave matched the Southeast Portland home where Ysman was found dead, according to local ABC affiliate KATU.
Police discovered Ysman’s four young children inside the house. The family had recently moved there with Ysman’s aunt after fleeing Vancouver, where she had lived with Joseph. Court documents show she left because of domestic violence.
Authorities say Ysman’s murder highlights the danger victims face in the weeks immediately after leaving an abuser. Davidson urged the community to take signs of abuse seriously and offer support. “It’s just incredibly important that the community know that if you see someone who looks like they’re in trouble… reach out and try to provide help,” he said.
“To any victim of domestic violence out there, don’t be afraid, we’re here… there’s an entire community of victim advocates there to give you help.” Joseph’s history with Ysman includes a 2019 assault while she was pregnant. He pleaded guilty in that case. When Vancouver police responded, Joseph’s younger brother, 16-year-old Clayton Joseph, was shot and killed by officers after allegedly approaching them with a knife. Officers were later cleared of wrongdoing.
In 2020, Joseph was cited for violating a no-contact order with Ysman. Court records also show he has pending DUI charges in Multnomah County. On Thursday, Joseph’s attorneys entered a not guilty plea during his first appearance following extradition from Clark County to Multnomah County. The plea, officials said, is standard procedure. He remains in custody at the Multnomah County Jail.