TN TN - Valerie Elder Smiley, 43, mom of four, wife, entrepreneur, Chattanooga, 28 Jun 2024

[Inthedetails]

There was likely another medication involved. She probably had one medication for the effects of vertigo and one medication for the ear infection. I wonder if she had some sort of reaction?

I think she had an accident and drove either into a body of water or a ditch. Perhaps she did get disoriented while driving. I hate that idea, but seems to fit the complete disappearance.

jmo

 

[fsngruv]

I was browsing at uid persons and one stuck out to me. I am not sure it would be an appropriate match for Valerie, and I'm not sure it's even worth submitting.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP145657 The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[fsngruv]

I was browsing at uid persons and one stuck out to me. I am not sure it would be an appropriate match for Valerie, and I'm not sure it's even worth submitting.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP145657 The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Replying to myself, because I wanted to add, that while the timeline might fit with when Valerie went missing and where her car was last seen, this UID does appear older, lacks a widows peak like Valerie appears to have and Valarie's nose seems a bit more pert than the UID. I can't tell if the UID has a mole over her lip like Valerie does either. They both appear to have a few tiny moles on their forehead, cheeks and nose but I'm not sure how they match up to each other. I am not sure it's a good match, now with a six hundred sixty second look.

 

[GraceG]

I was browsing at uid persons and one stuck out to me. I am not sure it would be an appropriate match for Valerie, and I'm not sure it's even worth submitting.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP145657 The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Since they used an actual photo of the decedant, the measurements of height and weight should be quite accurate, as it appears the person had not been deceased long. The person in the NamUs post is 65 pounds heavier than Valerie (for a person who is not really tall, that is an appreciable difference in weight) and is also 2 inches shorter.

 

[fsngruv]

Since they used an actual photo of the decedant, the measurements of height and weight should be quite accurate, as it appears the person had not been deceased long. The person in the NamUs post is 65 pounds heavier than Valerie (for a person who is not really tall, that is an appreciable difference in weight) and is also 2 inches shorter.

I took those into consideration as well! I'm sure the hospital gave accurate information about the decedant, but with missing persons I'm not sure where height and weight always comes from... Maybe family or the one who reports them missing? Maybe whatever's on their license? For me, the information on my license is a bit off, I'm definitely a little shorter and a little heavier than what my license lists, so I took into consideration that while the decedant info is accurate the missing person info might not. The bridge of the nose really does appear much different than our missing person.

 

[GraceG]

I took those into consideration as well! I'm sure the hospital gave accurate information about the decedant, but with missing persons I'm not sure where height and weight always comes from... Maybe family or the one who reports them missing? Maybe whatever's on their license? For me, the information on my license is a bit off, I'm definitely a little shorter and a little heavier than what my license lists, so I took into consideration that while the decedant info is accurate the missing person info might not. The bridge of the nose really does appear much different than our missing person.

Thats a good point - what's in the missing persons's report is often different than reality as people gain/lose and lie about their weight (guilty!), and families may not have seen the missing persons in weeks or months and weight can change quicker than you think (just ask me after the holidays). Height though is usually correct.

In the NamUs reports of an unidentified body the age/height/weight information comes from the medical examiner or coroner (not all coroners are doctors so it's usually from the ME) which was confirmed by the words "measured" in the report for height and weight of the unidentified report you referenced as possibly being Valerie. In cases where the remains are compromised through accident, the elements, decomp and/or scavengers, the NamUs report will say "estimate". The following is just an example from an actual NamUs file (not the whole file, just the parts showing height weight age but the case # is there is you want to look it up.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP12158

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Date Body Found
January 7, 2014
Case Information
ME/C Case Number
2014-00205
Estimated Age Range (Years)
14-18
Height
5' 7"-5' 11"(67-71 inches) , Estimated
Weight
150-175 lbs, Estimated

 

[fsngruv]

Thats a good point - what's in the missing persons's report is often different than reality as people gain/lose and lie about their weight (guilty!), and families may not have seen the missing persons in weeks or months and weight can change quicker than you think (just ask me after the holidays). Height though is usually correct.

In the NamUs reports of an unidentified body the age/height/weight information comes from the medical examiner or coroner (not all coroners are doctors so it's usually from the ME) which was confirmed by the words "measured" in the report for height and weight of the unidentified report you referenced as possibly being Valerie. In cases where the remains are compromised through accident, the elements, decomp and/or scavengers, the NamUs report will say "estimate". The following is just an example from an actual NamUs file (not the whole file, just the parts showing height weight age but the case # is there is you want to look it up.
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP12158

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Date Body Found
January 7, 2014
Case Information
ME/C Case Number
2014-00205
Estimated Age Range (Years)
14-18
Height
5' 7"-5' 11"(67-71 inches) , Estimated
Weight
150-175 lbs, Estimated

I thoroughly enjoyed your candid response! Lol. Thanks for that information!! It is truly helpful.

Sometimes I fear going off looks even in an actual photo isn't always a sure thing. So many things go into our facial construction and without muscles or even the elastisticy in our skin, it's hard to recognize someone accurately.

I hope this doe gets her name back and Valerie comes home to her family sooner than later.

Thanks again for your response and info! I'm still learning so much about navigating namus.

 

[muddychickens]

History of events:

Valerie leaves her Chattanooga home around 2:00 PM on Friday, June 28, 2024

My personal research leads me to believe she lives in the Brainerd area off I-24/I-75 split, which is also where her business is located.

Valerie is driving her Red 2004 Ford Expedition TN tag #079-BFQD with a TSU Mom Sticker

According to early new reports her family says the LIFE360 app shows her location as Decatur, TN. Decatur is a tiny town in Tennessee. It doesn’t say how she traveled there from Chattanooga. Shortest distance would be Hwy 58. If she did go to Decatur…. Like I said this is in early reports and on the Tennessee Missing and Unsolved postings from Facebook. It isn’t mentioned in later news stories.

Multiple news reports say she spoke to her husband, Patrick, on the phone. She told him she was on her way home. Patrick waited for Valerie at home so they could ride together to her twin sons’ baseball game. When Valerie didn’t show up Patrick took the boys on to the game. When she doesn’t arrive at the game and Patrick can’t reach her he asked a cousin to go by the house to check on her, but she wasn’t there.

Patrick arrived home between 10:30-11:00 pm and contacted police to report her missing.

Saturday, June 29, 2024 Valerie’s phone pings in Fayetteville, GA

Sunday, June 30, 2024 Valerie’s phone pings in Union City, GA

Family states there is no known connection to either city.

It has now been 1.5 years since Valerie went missing. Bank cards have not been used. Vehicle remains missing.


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