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

[Ironside]

Sorry, can’t see if this has been mentioned upthread, but what are the timings involved? And has there been any indication of what Liam’s plans were that day?

He got on the bus in Aberdeen at 1.11pm and it takes about an hour and a half to get to Banchory. That's about it really. No indication if he had other plans or where he said he may be going.

 

[zencompass]

Sorry, can’t see if this has been mentioned upthread, but what are the timings involved? And has there been any indication of what Liam’s plans were that day?

Dear CoverMeCagney,

Liam Smith, 16 years old, Aberdeen, did not share where he was going
Height: 6' 4"
Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam was at McDonald’s in Union Street at 12.28pm
Saturday, Nov. 17th, Liam caught the 202 Stagecoach bus from Aberdeen at 1:11 p.m.

He does not have his cell phone with him
He has his camouflage"NorthFace" backpack on
He is not wearing a jacket (as shown on CCTV)

CCTV appeal in search for missing Aberdeen teenager

Police switch focus of search for missing teenager to Banchory

[COLOR=#b300b3][B]@HayLouise[/B][/COLOR] has provided us with updates as they come in.

 

[earthspirit]

Now that we know he probably got off the bus at an earlier stop - crathes -- the search has switched there - what bothers me here is that its just beside the slug road. now there are easier ways to get to stonehaven but he has possibly headed south. also wonder why he bought the ticket for raemoir stop? would it have changed the price? liam would have known where the stops were i assume? or did he genuinely make a mistake and head off in the wrong direction across fields to get to somewhere off raemoir? the fact that he left his phone means a few things - either he did not want to be tracked or he left in a hurry and forgot it? maybe was charging up? nobody goes anywhere on purpose without their mobile phone so it would be good to hear the rest of this part of the story - also surely the phone would reveal any contacts? dont know if its good or bad that he has no phone

 

[zencompass]

Dear @earthspirit,

Great thoughts, especially your questioning as to why Liam's phone was left at home.

If Liam did not want to be "tracked", is that possibly why he got off at a stop before his ticket destination?

He certainly had a "head start" because the police were not notified that he was missing until the next day, Sunday November 18th. I wonder if his mother thought he was somewhere else during that time?

The only answer I am really hoping for is that Liam is found safe and sound.


"Inspector Jackie Knight said: “Liam was reported missing to police on Sunday morning but he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday November 17."
CCTV appeal in search for missing Aberdeen teenager | Bournemouth Echo

"Ch Insp Martin Mackay said: "We are still trying to establish why Liam has disappeared and what made him travel in this particular direction."
Missing teenager's family 'cling to hope'

 

[Elainera]

He certainly had a "head start" because the police were not notified that he was missing until the next day, Sunday November 18th. I wonder if his mother thought he was somewhere else during that time?

Good question Zen! Why did the family wait till the next morning to report him missing? Not blaming them, just wondering. He might have told them he is staying with a friend.

Does he have a girlfriend? Any recent problems that might have upset him a lot? At home, at school, with friends? Bullying, a break up? 16 is such a dramatic age. I hope he's just a runaway and nothing has happened to him.

 

[zencompass]

Dear Elainera,

I am hoping the same as you are - that he has gone to visit someone and not told anyone. This does occur sometimes with young teenagers.

From what I've read, I understand that this is totally out of character for him but I'm holding onto hope.

Maybe tomorrow will bring good news.

The Missing Persons information on the Police Scotland website is quite impressive with all of the information they provide, especially the "Runaway HelpLine".

http://www.scotland.police.uk/whats-happening/missingpersons/

 

[HayLouise]

A few people have asked us for the #LiamSmith missing person poster. Please find attached. Thank you to everyone who has retweeted our appeals so far.



NorthEastPolice on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Today police will be at Union Square shopping centre, the site of the last confirmed sighting of Liam as he boarded a Stagecoach 202 bus to Banchory last Saturday just after 1pm. They’re looking for two passengers who got on that bus at the Run 4 It shop on Holburn St.

Davy Shanks on Twitter

It’s now a week since 16-year-old Liam Smith disappeared. Police will be at Union Sq hoping someone will remember having seen him last weekend and be able to give some clue as to where he was going and why.

Davy Shanks on Twitter

He didn’t have his phone on him. But he was wearing a distinctive pair of trainers and a camouflage North Face backpack. Pictures are in the linked article further up this thread.

Davy Shanks on Twitter

Police Scotland will also have an incident unit in Banchory where the public can pass on any information they have about Liam Smith’s disappearance.

Davy Shanks on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

CCTV was broken on bus that missing Liam Smith boarded from Aberdeen

CCTV was broken on bus that missing Liam Smith boarded from Aberdeen | Press and Journal

 

[HayLouise]

Did you get a 202 @StagecoachNScot bus on the #A93 to #Deeside last Sat, 17 Nov? Did you see #LiamSmith? He got the bus at #Aberdeen Bus Station at 1.11pm. We believe he got off at #Crathes near @CrathesNTS & @Deeside_Railway. Any info call police on 101 using ref 1302 of 18 Nov.



NorthEastPolice on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Police return to key sites in search for missing teenager:

Northsound News on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

#Football legend Alex McLeish has issued an appeal to find Liam Smith from #Aberdeen. We have been asked to share this video today in the hope it can prompt people to come forward with info + most importantly also appeals for Liam to let someone know he is OK @ScotlandNT

NorthEastPolice on Twitter

(Video at link)

 

[HayLouise]

Police out in force in Aberdeen as well as Crathes and Banchory one week on from the disappearance of 16-year-old Liam Smith - last seen catching a Stagecoach bus



Scotland boss in missing teenager appeal

BBC North East Scot on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

The 202 service which missing 16-year-old Liam Smith boarded last Saturday is pictured leaving Aberdeen this afternoon - officers from @NorthEPolice are there today as well as in Crathes and Banchory one week on in the hope of getting more information to help find him.



BBC North East Scot on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

Alex McLeish issues plea for safe return of missing Scots lad Liam Smith

Alex McLeish issues plea for safe return of missing Scots lad Liam Smith



The Scottish Sun on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

I hope you decide to come home Liam

 

[Elainera]

It's nice to see how much police are doing to find Liam. I hope their effort pays off.

 

[earthspirit]

Dear @earthspirit,

Great thoughts, especially your questioning as to why Liam's phone was left at home.

If Liam did not want to be "tracked", is that possibly why he got off at a stop before his ticket destination?

He certainly had a "head start" because the police were not notified that he was missing until the next day, Sunday November 18th. I wonder if his mother thought he was somewhere else during that time?

The only answer I am really hoping for is that Liam is found safe and sound.


"Inspector Jackie Knight said: “Liam was reported missing to police on Sunday morning but he was last seen during the afternoon of Saturday November 17."
CCTV appeal in search for missing Aberdeen teenager | Bournemouth Echo

"Ch Insp Martin Mackay said: "We are still trying to establish why Liam has disappeared and what made him travel in this particular direction."
Missing teenager's family 'cling to hope'

What is puzzling is the fact that he did leave his phone and appears to have randomly gone on a bus he would not normally take.

I wonder if his mum and dad realised he did not have his phone with him? His mum Alix says that the behaviour is out of character.

At 16 in scotland you are treated as an adult. I am well aware the police are going to major lengths to try to find Liam but there is so little of any background with all of this. Where did he tell his parents he was going? He was seen at his home in Queens Rd Aberdeen - did he say where he was going? Was he asked where he was going or would it just be normal to say - mum/dad - im going out.

I know that all the search efforts are in one part of Aberdeenshire - however as this behaviour is so out of character, whats to say that he bought the ticket as a decoy and has actually nipped into the local train station and was headed to London?

We only have one witness to him getting off the bus at crathes - there have been other mistaken sightings. What if he has been groomed online and is now 600 miles away in London or further?

Poor kid didnt even seem to have a jacket but we dont know what was in his rucksack. He clearly has some money to buy the burger and pay for a ticket - did he have any other money with him which would allow him to travel further?

No doubt the police already know the answers to these things and are keeping quiet for "Operations Reasons" and that is why they are not looking any further.

Why has there been no door to door enquiries? Most people do not go out on a cold wet rainy day in only a jumper, unless they are going somewhere inside.

There is a LOT going thru my mind - Local to the area but i dont live there any more.

I know we saw the video of what is being called an unusual gait - he is 6ft 4" and very skinny. Was he trying to make himself look smaller? Has his height been an issue growing up? Was he bullied despite being popular and in many football teams? One of the photos i saw that was more recent than the one from two years ago at a family wedding. He seemed to have lost that good looking carefree appearance. He looked awfully stressed and dark eyed. Wish there was more that we the public could do.

 

[Rosegold68]

6ft 4 isn't unusual for a 16 year old at all. i work with plenty and have one of my own at home!

police will have plenty of info....whats in backpack,whats on the phone etc. fact that they are doing door to door and visiting the bus station is making me more worried for him

 

[zencompass]

The 202 service which missing 16-year-old Liam Smith boarded last Saturday is pictured leaving Aberdeen this afternoon - officers from @NorthEPolice are there today as well as in Crathes and Banchory one week on in the hope of getting more information to help find him.

View attachment 156912 View attachment 156913

BBC North East Scot on Twitter

Thanks for this information, HayLouise.

Hopefully the police can gain some information from people who normally take the 202 service at the time Liam boarded last Saturday.

Someone may speak to the police before they board the 202 today and give information that they didn't think important at the time but now realize it could be. Any details could be the clue that the police need.

Usually the same people take the same bus on a Saturday - well , most of them if it is their routine.

The police are working at every thread of this puzzle that they can and their dedication and compassion is stellar and heartwarming.

Perhaps today they will find the clue they need to bring Liam home.