Reward up to $40,000 for woman who turned in Nichols
Marshals, sheriffs' group free up funds
 |  Ashley Smith says Brian Nichols took her hostage outside her suburban Atlanta apartment early Saturday. |
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 Judge denies bail for Brian Nichols.
 How did suspect Brian Nichols elude police?
 Ashley Smith recounts her hours as Brian Nichols' hostage
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ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Following the lead of Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, two other law enforcement groups said Wednesday that they would pay thousands of dollars in reward money to Ashley Smith, the woman hailed as a hero for bringing a peaceful end to the manhunt for Brian Nichols.
The U.S. Marshals Service said it would pay $25,000 to Smith, and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association said it would ante up $5,000. Perdue said Tuesday that his office had authorized $10,000 in reward money, and he called on the others to do so as well.
The money was part of an overall $60,000 that was offered for information leading to Nichols' capture. It was not immediately clear when the money will be paid.
The only agency yet to make a decision on awarding the reward is the FBI, which offered $20,000.
"There is a process associated with any reward money promised by the FBI," spokesman Steve Lazarus said. "We fully recognize that Ashley Smith is eligible for the reward money for the capture of Brian Nichols. That said, the process is ongoing and we will discuss neither the process nor the timetable for its completion."
Smith said that, as a captive in her suburban Atlanta apartment Saturday morning, she gained the confidence of Nichols, who is accused of killing a judge, a deputy sheriff, a court reporter and a federal agent last week.
Nichols, 33, is being held without bond in maximum security in an Atlanta jail and is expected to be charged with murder in the four shooting deaths.
Smith, 26, said she gained Nichols' trust by talking to him about her 5-year-old daughter, God and hope. She was allowed to leave her apartment, and called 911.
Nichols later gave himself up to police outside Smith's apartment. (Full story)
"Ashley Smith earned this reward because her brave actions led directly to the apprehension of Brian Nichols," Perdue said in a statement on the governor's Web site. "We are all proud of the quick law enforcement effort that peacefully resolved this crisis following her 9-1-1 call."
On Tuesday, Nichols made his first court appearance since his arrest Saturday. Wearing a blue jumpsuit and blue slippers, with his hands and legs shackled, Nichols spoke only to tell the court that he had nothing to say "at this time."
Prosecutor Michele McCutcheon said the state intended to file four charges of murder -- as well as felony escape charges and charges of "other felonies" -- against Nichols.
The judge also read previous rape charges, on which Nichols is being held while prosecutors arrange formal charges in the killings.
After the hearing, defense attorney Chris Adams spoke to reporters.
"This is a time of grief and mourning for the courthouse community," Adams said. "We're going to respect that. There will be plenty of time for us later to lay out our legal arguments, and examine the evidence and search for answers in this case."
A few blocks away, at Fulton County Courthouse, employees attended a memorial service for the three people killed there Friday morning.
Alleged chain of events
Police said Nichols' courthouse escape began Friday when he overpowered and injured sheriff's deputy Cynthia Ann Hall, who was escorting him to his retrial.
A courthouse video system recorded Nichols overpowering Hall, police said, taking her keys and then unlocking a nearby lockbox to obtain her gun.
Nichols then went across a bridge to an adjacent building and into a courtroom, where he shot and killed Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland W. Barnes and court reporter Julie Ann Brandau, police said. Police also accuse Nichols of fatally shooting sheriff's deputy Sgt. Hoyt Teasley during his escape.
CNN has learned that Barnes pushed a silent alarm button twice during the incidents Friday, but authorities didn't respond until minutes later, after the judge and court reporter had been killed.
Police said Nichols then carjacked several vehicles -- injuring a local newspaper reporter -- and then boarded a subway train north to Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood.
Authorities said Nichols then shot and killed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent David Wilhelm at his home, which was under construction near the subway station. Next, Nichols stole Wilhelm's truck, police said, and drove it to an apartment complex to the northeast in Gwinnett County. There, he took Smith hostage, police said. (Full story)
Smith played down her efforts Monday night.
"Throughout my time with Mr. Nichols, I continued to rely [on] my faith in God. God has helped me through tough times before, and he'll help me now," she told reporters at a news conference in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia. (Full story)
