Police talk to man in Illinois standoff

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. -- Extradition proceedings began Monday for a man who is accused of killing his girlfriend in Nebraska, then getting into a standoff with police at a hotel near St. Louis.

Ronald Smith, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Terri Harris. He has been held in Collinsville, Ill., since a standoff there with law enforcement on Saturday.

A family member found Harris, 51, dead last Thursday in the Syracuse home she shared with Smith, according to court documents. A pillow, in a cupped position with blood and saliva on it, was near her head.

Smith is also charged with first-degree forgery and theft. Authorities allege he stole Harris' vehicle and checks worth $3,900.

It was not clear if Smith has an attorney. There was no telephone listing for Ronald Smith in Syracuse.

A Nebraska State Patrol investigator and Otoe County sheriff's deputy interviewed Smith in Collinsville on Sunday, according to court documents.

The standoff on Saturday started when a man called police around noon, saying he wanted to surrender in connection with the death of a woman in Nebraska.

Smith was later taken into custody after police broke the door open and fired several rounds of bean bags at him for refusing orders from officers, said Assistant Police Chief David Schneider.