Found Deceased UK - Liam Smith, 16, Aberdeen, Scotland, 17 Nov 2018

[alreetlike]

The weather in the UK is horrible right now Northern Ireland anyway...

Bring Liam home

Awful here in Newcastle; all I've done is walk round to the shop 5 minutes round the corner and I'm drenched. And based on my experience, the Aberdeen weather is usually quite a bit worse.

There just doesn't seem to be much to work with other than these potential sightings. I wonder if investigators are deliberately withholding something or if there genuinely isn't anything more to say.

 

[HayLouise]

Police say they have so far received 139 reported sightings of missing 16-year-old Liam Smith in various locations such as Inverurie, Rothienorman and Kemnay. Following CCTV work to identify the young men, these sightings have now been eliminated from their investigation.

Davy Shanks on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Officers are continuing to carry out extensive searches in the #Crathes area for teenager Liam Smith as it approaches two weeks since he was reported missing. To read more - https://t.co/jPhQnmXOf5?amp=1



NorthEastPolice on Twitter

 

[Rosegold68]

they seem determined he's in the Crathes area.....also that he's outside. they must have some idea of whats happened to remain focused here

 

[HayLouise]

*deleted wrong thread

 

[Ironside]

Search for missing Liam Smith needs to be ‘realistic’, say police

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Search for missing Liam Smith needs to be ‘realistic’, say police

"He bought Lucozade, Jaffa Cakes and Dairy Milk at Sainsbury’s before he left Aberdeen"

Party food, survival rations, or last supper? Wish there was more info about where he was going and/or where he said he was going. Is the area around there known for anything in particular?

 

[Ironside]

Is the area around there known for anything in particular?

There's is a Go Ape climbing centre in Crathes - it's an outdoor treetop obstacle course type place. The kind of place school tours go to.

A lot of people in Aberdeenshire may be familiar with Crathes because of that.

 

[alreetlike]

"He bought Lucozade, Jaffa Cakes and Dairy Milk at Sainsbury’s before he left Aberdeen"

Those seem such typical things for a 16 year old boy to buy... sugar, sugar, sugar! But that doesn't tell us where he was going with them...

 

[Coach]

Are they 100% sure Liam got on the bus? I know they were searching Lumphanan to start with, then Banchory before Crathes. Do they have actual footage of him getting on the bus?

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

Still no Liam? I truly hope he is found safe and sound.

 

[Beagle]

There's is a Go Ape climbing centre in Crathes - it's an outdoor treetop obstacle course type place. The kind of place school tours go to.

A lot of people in Aberdeenshire may be familiar with Crathes because of that.

what sort of town/village is it like....nice area or dubious area

 

[HayLouise]

Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith - Evening Express



Evening Express on Twitter

 

[Coach]

Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith - Evening Express

View attachment 157664 View attachment 157665

Evening Express on Twitter

We live just under an hour from Crathes and it's been pouring rain most of the day, it is so dark as well. Conditions will be terrible for the people searching.

 

[zencompass]

We live just under an hour from Crathes and it's been pouring rain most of the day, it is so dark as well. Conditions will be terrible for the people searching.

Dear Coach,

Thank you so much for this information.

Information about the area is so greatly appreciated by everyone!

Your kindness and compassion is evident in your posts.

I'm glad you are on this thread!

 

[Coach]

Dear Coach,

Thank you so much for this information.

Information about the area is so greatly appreciated by everyone!

Your kindness and compassion is evident in your posts.

I'm glad you are on this thread!

Thank you for your kind words. The weather has been horrendous today again, not cold (as this has been the mildest November that we can ever remember having) but it's been windy and so much rain. It feels dark all day, dark in the morning and getting dark again around 3pm. Normal weather for this time of year would have seen lots of snow by now but it has been very mild. Crathes is about three miles from Banchory and it is a lovely area on Deeside, beautiful countryside. Crathes Castle and the River Dee are very near to where the service bus would stop, both within a short walking distance from the main Aberdeen - Banchory road. There is also a village hall nearby as well and the old railway line. I have a friend who lives in Lumphanan and when news first broke, they were searching in and around Lumphanan. Then the search switched to Banchory after they said that he bought a bus ticket for Raemoir Road in Banchory. I know I have asked this already but how sure are they that he actually got on the bus? The bus station will have CCTV, I know they said the cameras on the actual bus itself was broken but have they seen physical footage of him getting on the bus? Did he buy the ticket at the ticket office or on the actual bus? I guess they will be able to match the ticket (if say it was bought in the ticket office) with the wayfarer or similar machine on the bus to see that it was used. There was a witness who said that he got off the bus at Crathes so hopefully they are sure of this. Raemoir road in Banchory is a much sought after area, there are a lot of expensive houses, in fact Banchory is highly regarded as a place to live. If someone was going to Raemoir road then I'm guessing it would be to visit someone who lives there. Further up Raemoir road there is a garden centre but that's as you are heading out of the village. Buying a bus ticket specifically for Raemoir road, there would have to be a reason for going there, to see someone. I don't think it has been confirmed if the ticket was a single (one way) or return but the Police will know this for sure. It doesn't surprise me that the CCTV in the bus was broken as it will be Stagecoach that operates this service. Did someone say that he wasn't reported missing until the following day? no mobile phone I would say is unusual for a 16yr old, unless it was left at home by accident, or on purpose, broken or out of charge etc. I did wonder if he had left the bus earlier than intended for some reason, perhaps something as simple as wanting the toilet and he couldn't wait (I know that's unlikely but it is possible). There are public toilets at the Castle and is it possible that if he did get off the bus there with the intention to then walk to Banchory, have could have tried to take a short cut cross country as oppose to walking the main road. Is it possible that he fell, badly injured etc, so many questions but I think they would have found him by now. I know when they searched Lumphanan they had a helicopter. There have been a lot of people out searching, locals and farmers will know the area very well. On coming off the bus and heading the opposite direction of the Castle, is the Slug road which leads to the town of Stonehaven near the main A90 on the Aberdeen to Dundee road. Where the bus would have stopped at Crathes it is not far at all from the river Dee, literally a stones throw. One person I would have expected them to speak to is the driver, professional drivers whether it be a taxi driver with one person or a bus driver with a number of people - they notice things about the people they are conveying. I can't begin to imagine what his family are going through right now, they must be absolutely devastated. All these alleged sightings too, giving false hopes and all have been ruled out. I did wonder why they haven't released any more information about Liam by now, does anyone else think the same? I can only apologise for such a long post but I tried to include as much information as I could. Thanks for reading.

 

[zencompass]

Dear Coach,

Excellent questions! You've also painted a picture of the area so that we can visualize it. Thank you!

I agree with you that there are few details, especially when Liam was last seen or heard from by his mother.

1. From the news article (below), it is stated that CCTV showed Liam before he boarded the bus. I have not seen that a witness saw Liam actually getting on the bus. (Great thought of yours that the police would have had that ticket checked to see whether it was used.)

Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith - Evening Express

2. The police somehow determined that the witness who said that Liam got off the bus at Crathe was certain of this. Witnesses can be mistaken - hopefully this one was absolutely certain it was Liam he or she saw. I wonder whether it was his height (6'4") that the witness noticed?

"“He is particularly tall for his age and that may make him stand out.”
We just want to know Liam is safe: North-east mum's heartfelt plea for schoolboy to come home - Evening Express

3. Excerpts from news article (below):

"Police made a breakthrough yesterday afternoon when they tracked down CCTV images of Liam at McDonald’s on Union Street, in Aberdeen, on Saturday at just before 12.30pm."

"A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Inquiries can now confirm Liam boarded the 1.11pm 202 bus at the bus station in Aberdeen and disembarked at Lumphanan at 2.44pm." (***Later the police determined that the disembarkment in their statement was the wrong location)

We just want to know Liam is safe: North-east mum's heartfelt plea for schoolboy to come home - Evening Express

4. Timeline

Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam was at McDonald’s in Union Street at 12.28pm (on CCTV)

Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam caught the 202 Stagecoach bus from Aberdeen at 1:11 p.m. (not captured on CCTV)

In the article (below), when Insp. Knight states "he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday" - would this infer to Liam captured on CCTV at 12:28?

If so, the police have not released information as to when the family actually last saw (or heard from) Liam.

This is the puzzling part to me. That, plus Liam not taking his cell phone.

"Insp Jackie Knight said: "Liam was reported missing to police on Sunday morning but he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday. Given the passage of time his family is naturally becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare."

CCTV appeal over missing teenager


5. Details

The family state they were not aware of where Liam was going. His mother has reached out to Liam's peers asking them if they have any knowledge of where Liam intended to go.

He does not have his cell phone with him. It was left at home.

He has his camouflage"NorthFace" backpack on

He is not wearing a jacket (as shown on CCTV) Is it in his backpack?

North East Police Division

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

I myself am starting to worry. Liam (imo) would be so easy to spot, because he's so tall. It's not like he just blends right in everywhere. Hoping against odds he is safe!

Liam did not take his cell phone? And he did not tell his parents where he was going? This is extremely strange for a teenager nowadays. Cell phones have everything, not just for calls, it's emails, banks, weather, maps, news, flashlight, camera, etc. Where was Liam going?

 

[Coach]

Dear Coach,

Excellent questions! You've also painted a picture of the area so that we can visualize it. Thank you!

I agree with you that there are few details, especially when Liam was last seen or heard from by his mother.

1. From the news article (below), it is stated that CCTV showed Liam before he boarded the bus. I have not seen that a witness saw Liam actually getting on the bus. (Great thought of yours that the police would have had that ticket checked to see whether it was used.)

Police head into ‘challenging’ terrain in search for Aberdeen teen Liam Smith - Evening Express

2. The police somehow determined that the witness who said that Liam got off the bus at Crathe was certain of this. Witnesses can be mistaken - hopefully this one was absolutely certain it was Liam he or she saw. I wonder whether it was his height (6'4") that the witness noticed?

"“He is particularly tall for his age and that may make him stand out.”
We just want to know Liam is safe: North-east mum's heartfelt plea for schoolboy to come home - Evening Express

3. Excerpts from news article (below):

"Police made a breakthrough yesterday afternoon when they tracked down CCTV images of Liam at McDonald’s on Union Street, in Aberdeen, on Saturday at just before 12.30pm."

"A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Inquiries can now confirm Liam boarded the 1.11pm 202 bus at the bus station in Aberdeen and disembarked at Lumphanan at 2.44pm." (***Later the police determined that the disembarkment in their statement was the wrong location)

We just want to know Liam is safe: North-east mum's heartfelt plea for schoolboy to come home - Evening Express

4. Timeline

Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam was at McDonald’s in Union Street at 12.28pm (on CCTV)

Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam caught the 202 Stagecoach bus from Aberdeen at 1:11 p.m. (not captured on CCTV)

In the article (below), when Insp. Knight states "he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday" - would this infer to Liam captured on CCTV at 12:28?

If so, the police have not released information as to when the family actually last saw (or heard from) Liam.

This is the puzzling part to me. That, plus Liam not taking his cell phone.

"Insp Jackie Knight said: "Liam was reported missing to police on Sunday morning but he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday. Given the passage of time his family is naturally becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare."

CCTV appeal over missing teenager


5. Details

The family state they were not aware of where Liam was going. His mother has reached out to Liam's peers asking them if they have any knowledge of where Liam intended to go.

He does not have his cell phone with him. It was left at home.

He has his camouflage"NorthFace" backpack on

He is not wearing a jacket (as shown on CCTV) Is it in his backpack?

North East Police Division

Excellent post. That's exactly right, when they carried out the extensive search at Lumphanan, they were sure that he had got off the bus there. Assuming they knew at that point that he had bought a ticket to Raemoir Road in Banchory, that would have meant that he would have had to stay on the bus beyond when she should have got off. Next, they went to Banchory to search there. I can't help but wonder how sure they are that he even got on the bus. The CCTV footage which shows him walking and heading through the doors is him entering Union Square. This is the shopping centre which is right next to the bus and railway stations. McDonalds on Union Street would have been prior to the footage we have been shown. I would have thought that the bus station would have CCTV at the actual bus stances, where people get on and off the actual buses. The footage they have shown is him walking into the shopping centre, this is not where McDonalds is as there isn't a McDonalds there, it's up on Union Street but it's a short walk from there to the bus station. As you rightly say, witnesses can get things wrong. Just because they think he bought a ticket doesn't necessarily mean he got on the bus. I find it odd that he was not reported missing until Sunday. I wonder if his family contacted the police on the Saturday evening but they were told that someone isn't missing until they have been away for 24hrs? Also, he is 16yrs old so although they are saying he was reported missing on Sunday, perhaps his parents called the police sooner than this but it was not logged as a missing person because a certain period of time, 24hrs had not passed. What I do find odd is that he didn't have a mobile phone with him and I think it is fair to say that this is unusual for someone of this age. The police have not said the time that his family last saw him. If Liam had been heading away to stay with a friend overnight on the Saturday, surely his family would have known about it. From what we have read, it appears that they (his family) did not know where he was or where he was heading. One thing I would also say is that the bus would not have be an overly busy route, they didn't say exactly how many people were on it but I don't think there would have been too many. If someone buys a ticket for a bus journey and gets on the bus, they normally get off at the intended point. They haven't said if the ticket was a single or return. They also haven't released any details about his state of mind the last time his family saw him. The no mobile phone is extremely unusual I would think. They have been searching around Crathes and the river Dee but found nothing so far. This happened at two other locations prior to Crathes. If he bought a ticket for Raemoir Road in Banchory then surely his family would know (or be able to find out) if he knows someone who stays in that area. If they have no CCTV of him boarding or sitting on that bus, was he even on it?

 

[zencompass]

Maybe this is just my "hope" talking, however, from the start I've felt that he left home and left his cell phone there, as if leaving "everything" behind him. I think Liam ran away, left home.

Did Liam go to someone's house to get away? Is this someone his parents aren't aware of?

The fact that he didn't say where he was going is puzzling.

Thanks for letting us know that the doors Liam walked through are the entrance to "Union Square". Now I have an even better picture of the area there.

You are absolutely right - we have no CCTV of Liam either boarding or sitting on the bus.

As to when his family saw him last, the police state that Liam was seen on Saturday afternoon. This would be the CCTV at McDonalds. No mention, as you say, of the last time his mother saw him. I find this puzzling, as well.

The main reason I can think of as to why a person of that age would leave a cell phone behind is that he or she would know that they could be "tracked" on it.

The police and his mother have been urging anyone to contact them to tell them at least that Liam is safe. If there was a reason why Liam left, only his mother and the police are privy to that information. That is - if they know.

As you say, Liam's state of mind has not been mentioned.

This case has tugged at my heart since day one.

Whatever the scenario turns out to be, I still have hope that Liam is safe somewhere. There is always hope.