Deceased/Not Found IN - Karen Smith, 35, Indianapolis, 27 Dec 2000 *S. Halcomb Guilty*

[JusticeWillBeServed]

It's been fifteen years since Karen Jo Smith was last seen alive. Her ex-husband was immediately a person of interest and was eventually convicted for her murder. He maintained his innocence until a few years ago when he admitted his guilt through letters. He has given information to the family on where Karen's remains are located but she still has not been found.

NamUs

Charley Project

Doe Network

Circumstances of Disappearance
Karen was last seen at approx. 10:30pm at her residence near the 800 block of Weghorst St. on December 27, 2000. Her son told police that Karen's ex husband, Steven Halcomb, was sitting in the living room with Karen the night she was last seen. She appeared to be in a drug-induced sleepiness. Her two children said they didn't hear any suspicious activity that night. They reported her missing the next morning when she couldn't be found and she missed an appointment later that day. Karen had felt threatened by Halcomb. He vanished the same day she was reported missing and he didn't report for work the next day. His vehicle, a 1983 light blue Ford LTD Indiana plates 95W7801, was also missing. He turned himself in on January 11, 2001 after violating parole in California. His vehicle was searched for evidence, nothing was found, and he denied involvement. Halcomb was convicted and sentenced for Karen's death in December 2004.

15 years later family continues search for missing woman

The family still has never been able to find the body of Karen Jo Smith, who would have turned 50 this year.

"We continue to search," Lee said. "We will never give up searching and it is just our hope and prayer someday the good lord above will lead us to where she is at."

Three years ago Halcomb confessed to the crime through prison letters to the family and agreed to help find her remains, Lee said.

“We focused on what he told us, but yet we’re still unable to pinpoint the exact location," Lee said.

Lee has received more information from Halcomb, and now believes his niece's body is on another piece of land close to where they searched before, but it's privately owned the owner will only let them search on a smaller scale.

Search Resumes For Body Of Woman Missing For 10 Years - April 2011

Investigators search for Karen Jo Smith's remains - November 2007

Man Convicted Of Killing Ex-Wife Gets 95 Years - January 2005

Daughter Has Message For Missing Mother - May 2001

Indy woman remains missing - February 2001

 

[LostOldUserName]

I hate that Karen has never been found! Miss you pretty lady. Fly high.

 

[LostOldUserName]

Bumping for Karen! 16 years doesn't seem possible!

 

[Atombudd]

Indy Justice: ‘What happened to Karen Jo Smith?’

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — It was just a couple days after Christmas in the 2000 when Karen Jo Smith decided she had had enough from her abusive ex-con ex-husband Steven Halcomb and was going to ki…

fox59.com

 

[LostOldUserName]

Indy Justice: ‘What happened to Karen Jo Smith?’

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — It was just a couple days after Christmas in the 2000 when Karen Jo Smith decided she had had enough from her abusive ex-con ex-husband Steven Halcomb and was going to ki…

fox59.com

This still breaks my heart. I worked with Karen Jo. She had been seeing another guy when I worked with her. I didn't know about her ex but warned her about the new guy. She replied something to the effect "if you only knew what I have been through. I can handle it." I still think of her often.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Dec 27, 2015

https://cbs4indy.com/news/family-continues-search-for-missing-woman-after-15-years/

Karen Jo Smith – The Charley Project

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Smith, circa 2000; Ring similar to Smith's ring

• Missing Since 12/27/2000
• Missing From Indianapolis, Indiana
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 10/12/1965 (58)
• Age 35 years old
• Height and Weight 4'11, 148 pounds
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• Clothing/Jewelry Description A gray Indiana University sweatshirt, jeans or gray sweatpants, white socks, a pink marquise ring with gold stripe across the stone, a gold ring with seventeen diamonds on a cross band (similar to the one pictured with this case summary), and possibly a black leather thigh-length jacket with a large hood and gold satin lining. Possibly carrying a twelve-inch black leather purse with a shoulder strap and a multicolored woven leather cigarette case.
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• Associated Vehicle(s) Light blue 1983 Ford LTD with the Indiana license plate number 95W7801 (accounted for)
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• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Smith has scars on her left foot and on her abdomen. She has a surgical scar on her left knee. Smith wore a retainer on her lower teeth at the time of her 2000 disappearance. She has a wide gap between her upper front teeth. Smith's right index finger was severed during a sewing accident and reattached prior to her disappearance. She occasionally walks with a limp as the result of a cleft foot. One of Smith's ankles was reconstructed during her childhood. Her left ear is pierced three times on the earlobe, with an additional piercing in the upper cartilage. Smith's right ear is pierced twice in the earlobe. Her maiden name is Bishop.

Details of Disappearance​

Smith was last seen at her residence in the 800 block of Weghorst Street in Indianapolis, Indiana at approximately 10:30 p.m. on December 27, 2000. Her son told authorities that her former husband, Steven D. Halcomb, was sitting in the family's living room with Smith at the time. Her son reported that Smith appeared to be experiencing drug-induced sleepiness.

Her two children did not hear any suspicious activity within their house during the night. They reported her as a missing person when Smith could not be located the following morning. She also missed an appointment that day. She left behind her car, jewelry, and money at her house. She was in financial trouble at the time of her disappearance and had previously filed for bankruptcy.

Halcomb had been paroled from a drug-related conviction in August 2000, four months before Smith vanished. Smith previously told her family members that she felt threatened by him.

He dropped out of sight at the same time Smith disappeared; he failed to show up for work the next day. His vehicle, a light blue 1983 Ford LTD with the Indiana license plate number 95W7801, was also missing. Photos of him and his car are posted with this case summary.

Halcomb turned himself into authorities on January 11, 2001 after violating his parole. He had been in California. His vehicle was located and inspected for possible evidence related to Smith's disappearance, but nothing was found during the search. He has maintained his innocence regarding Smith's case and told investigators he never saw his former wife around the time she vanished, but Smith's family believes that he was involved in her case.

Halcomb was denied parole in 2001 and remained in prison until the end of his sentence in 2003. After being released from prison, he disappeared again. He was indicted in absentia for Smith's murder in August 2003, over two and a half years after she disappeared. He was later apprehended and arrested.

A cellmate of Halcomb's testified he heard Halcomb confess to strangling Smith, and prosecutors produced other evidence that he abused and stalked Smith and tried to hire an undercover police officer to kill her before her disappearance.

His lawyers argued that there was no evidence Smith had been murdered. They suggested that she had committed suicide or left town to avoid her creditors. Halcomb was convicted of the murder in December 2004 and was sentenced to 95 years in prison. He will not be eligible for parole until he is in his eighties. He maintains his innocence in Smith's case.

Smith's loved ones have stated that it is very uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning. She is very devoted to her two children, who are now being cared for by relatives. Smith's family believes that she may have traveled to the southeast section of Indianapolis after her initial disappearance.

Her remains have never been found, but foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.