Found Deceased TX - Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, Autistic, mental illness, not taking meds, last seen at home near County Rd 42 & FM 724, Smith County, 18 May 2023

[Unalienable Rights]

Officials ask for help to find missing Smith County woman

Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, is a white woman who is 5'5" tall, weighs 250 lbs. and has brown hair and brown eyes.

www.cbs19.tv

May 31, 2023

SMITH COUNTY, Texas — The Smith County Sheriff's Office is asking the public's help in locating a missing woman in Smith County.

According to the Smith County Sheriff's Office, Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, was reported missing by her family on May 24.

Courtney Taylor Martin – The Charley Project

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Courtney Taylor Martin​

• 

Martin, circa 2023

• Missing Since05/18/2023
• Missing FromSmith County, Texas
• ClassificationEndangered Missing
• SexFemale
• RaceWhite
• Date of Birth10/10/1988 (35)
• Age34 years old
• Height and Weight5'5, 250 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionPossibly wearing a black baseball cap saying "Cadet" and a nose stud, and carrying a black backpack with a floral pattern.
• Medical ConditionsMartin suffers from mental illness and wasn't taking psychiatric medication at the time of her disappearance. She is also autistic.
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. The left side of Martin's nose is pierced. She has a tattoo of the letters "CM" on the back of her left shoulder.

Details of Disappearance​

Martin was last seen near her residence in the area of County Road 42 and FM 724 in Smith County, Texas on May 18, 2023. She has never been heard from again. At the time of her disappearance, she was known to frequent the "tent city" area near the Super-One on East Gentry.
According to her family, Martin kept in regular touch with them and was noted for her kindness and openness towards people. Few details are available in her case.

Investigating Agency​

• Smith County Sheriff’s Office 903-566-6600

Source Information​

• KLTV 7
• The Tyler Morning Telegraph
• Missing people in Texas

Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004. Last updated June 8, 2024; casefile added.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Missing sister inspires Tyler woman to create support network

Tyler resident Ali Ashcraft channels grief into action, creating the Tyler, Texas Missing Persons Support and Awareness Group after her sister went missing in 2023.

tylerpaper.com

June 8, 2024

Courtney Taylor Martin was reported missing on May 24, 2023. After more than a year, Martin's whereabouts remain unknown.

Now, her sister Ali Ashcraft is trying to make a difference for families like hers, who sometimes don't know where to turn for help and are desperate for answers about their missing loved ones.

Ashcraft has felt hopeless at times as the search for Martin hasn't produced results. Recently, Ashcraft started a community group to help others like her find support.

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More at link -- good information.

 

[Dre]

So heartbreaking
I used to live across the street from a large tent city and the OD deaths were off the charts, as well as domestic violence.
Was she romantically involved with someone?

 

[Caring1]

Courtney’s NamUs was either modified or made public today. No exclusions.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

 

[mlhenn]

Authorities suspect foul play involved as search for missing Tyler woman continues

Authorities are still searching for a woman who went missing two years ago after calling her mother from a county road in East Texas and saying she needed a ride.

www.kltv.com

Courtney Taylor Martin, 34 at the time, was last seen on May 18, 2023, near the intersection of CR 42 and Highway 110, north of Tyler. She was only about 1.4 miles from her home, and her mother said she arrived only minutes after her call, but Martin was not there. Deputies now say foul play may have been involved in her disappearance.

 

[mlhenn]

Courtney Taylor Martin – The Charley Project

Last updated May 20, 2025; three pictures added and details of disappearance updated.

 

[Caring1]

Remains recovered, identity currently unknown.

August 26, 2025

SMITH COUNTY, Texas — A Texas Department of Public Safety dive team has wrapped up the search for a missing person.
The search was initiated after witnesses in the area say they found a backpack and wallet belonging to Courtney Martin, who went missing in May 2023.

Dive team wraps up search for missing person after human remains found in Smith County

The search was initiated after witnesses in the area say they found a backpack and wallet belonging to Courtney Martin, who went missing in May 2023.

www.cbs19.tv

 

[Caring1]

Authorities do believe that the body found is that of Courtney

August 26, 2025

Sheriff Larry Smith confirmed a backpack belonging to Courtney Taylor Martin, who was 34 at the time of her disappearance, was found 150 yards away from where her body was found in the pond.

Body found in private pond believed to be Tyler woman missing for 2 years

The Smith County Sheriff’s Office believes a body found on in a private pond on McDougle Road in Smith County is that of a woman missing for two years.

www.kltv.com

 

[GraceG]

Body Found in Pond Believed to Be Woman Who Went Missing 2 Years Ago After Calling Mom for Ride

'This will be an all-hands-on-deck criminal investigation,' said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith of the investigation into what happened to 34-year-old Courtney Martin, who disappeared in Texas more than two years ago after calling her mother and requesting a ride

people.com

So sad it's her but for her family's sake after all this time, I'm glad she's been found. I wonder why they think this was foul play? My first thought was that she might have been disoriented due to her lack of recent required medication and accidentally ended up in the pond in the dark.

Rest in peace, Courtney. You were very much loved.

 

[SluethinAway]

Remains found in Smith County pond confirmed to be missing Tyler woman last seen in 2023 - Tyler Morning Telegraph

NEW HARMONY — Human remains recovered from a lake in Smith County earlier this week have been positively identified as a missing woman last seen over two years ago. Courtney Taylor Martin, 35, vanished from Smith County on May 16, 2023. All investigative leads had been exhausted and the case was...

tylerpaper.com

Confirmed to Be Courtney
“Unfortunately, this is a tragic and sad end to the disappearance of Courtney Martin, however, this investigation will continue as foul play is expected,”

 

[tlcya]

prayers for her loved ones. At least the unknowing is over. Of course so is any last vestige of hope

 

[Wilma_W]

Smith County Sheriff’s Office confirms remains are that of missing Tyler woman

They must know something specific that is not public because they (LE) are saying foul play is 'expected'. Hopefully we find out what that is.