Deceased/Not Found VA - Eric Smith, 42, Cedar Bluff, 8 Nov 2013

[Faithandhope]

thanks so much for all of this info, vasportsmom!

I live on over a hundred acres and can see how something could easily be missed... However, when an old cat ran away, my husband was able to find her, and that was on a 100+ acre property that he searched by himself, and obviously a much smaller body (she'd had a stroke or something, ran away to die, very old cat). On less than 50 acres in VA, there shouldn't be a doubt as to whether a body is there or not, especially with dogs, search parties, and the like.

I also am in VA (not near Cedar Bluff, but I'm generally familiar with different areas of VA). I just find it hard, nee impossible, to believe that he went out to check a common deer stand on a relatively small piece of land, and no one can find any trace of him, though NO ONE says they think he'd just up and leave.

Like I said... something very hinky.

Does anyone know of any possible reason why someone close to him would want him gone? If I have the timeline correct, wife was the last to see him go out hunting or whatever... When was the last time he was seen before that? When did his kids last see him? Can we confirm that he was alive as of the night before?

 

[Faithandhope]

I hate to say it, but I hope LE searched the house thoroughly for anything...

 

[JnRyan]

Our grandmother had approximately 100 acres in the Midwest. Only about 15 - 20 of it was bottom land bordering a creek. There was another 10-15 on next to house for horses. She had 6-8 head of cattle on the remainder. While feeding them early one fall she noticed one wasn't showing up. She had difficulty getting out into the area - mostly wooded - where the cattle grazed during the day so she didn't really search. My cousins looked briefly but everyone figured she got out somehow or someone took her. That next summer I was there and on the 2nd day - my first full day there - roaming the area where the cattle were I came across a hill that only had 2-3 trees on it. One tree looked damaged so I went up there and at the base of the tree was the remains of the missing cow. Her tag was on a chain around her neck had been pulled out off the remains and hanging a tree limb. (The tree was at the crest of the hill and badly damaged by lightning. We figured that was what killer her.) But after less than 2 days of not really searching, just roaming around, I found the bones in the tall grass. You couldn't see them till you right up on them. In fact I wasn't even aware one of them had gone missing till I brought the tag back to the house. I was the only person that had actually gone out and walked the property since the previous summer.

Granted a cow is much bigger than a person, but by the time I was on site there were only the bones flat on the ground. I can't see how any group of any large size - with dogs - cannot find someone on less then 50 acres. Unless the person was not there to start with.

 

[vasportsmom]

It was pouring the rain today and the fog made it impossible to take pictures. There is a lookout at the top of the mountain with a picnic area, playground and few walking trails and the fog was so thick that I couldn't even see the trail markers. It's supposed to be much clearer tomorrow and it is less than a 5 minute drive so I'll go back tomorrow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Roselvr]

Our grandmother had approximately 100 acres in the Midwest. Only about 15 - 20 of it was bottom land bordering a creek. There was another 10-15 on next to house for horses. She had 6-8 head of cattle on the remainder. While feeding them early one fall she noticed one wasn't showing up. She had difficulty getting out into the area - mostly wooded - where the cattle grazed during the day so she didn't really search. My cousins looked briefly but everyone figured she got out somehow or someone took her. That next summer I was there and on the 2nd day - my first full day there - roaming the area where the cattle were I came across a hill that only had 2-3 trees on it. One tree looked damaged so I went up there and at the base of the tree was the remains of the missing cow. Her tag was on a chain around her neck had been pulled out off the remains and hanging a tree limb. (The tree was at the crest of the hill and badly damaged by lightning. We figured that was what killer her.) But after less than 2 days of not really searching, just roaming around, I found the bones in the tall grass. You couldn't see them till you right up on them. In fact I wasn't even aware one of them had gone missing till I brought the tag back to the house. I was the only person that had actually gone out and walked the property since the previous summer.

Granted a cow is much bigger than a person, but by the time I was on site there were only the bones flat on the ground. I can't see how any group of any large size - with dogs - cannot find someone on less then 50 acres. Unless the person was not there to start with.

Cedar Bluff Police Chief David Mills, coordinator of the search said with Smith wearing high tech camo the search becomes much more difficult. “He can be lying down and he would be impossible to see,” Mills said. The terrain is also a big problem in the search. With thick underbrush and steep hills it is necessary to cover an area multiple times in order to be thorough.

 

[JnRyan]

Cedar Bluff Police Chief David Mills, coordinator of the search said with Smith wearing high tech camo the search becomes much more difficult. “He can be lying down and he would be impossible to see,” Mills said. The terrain is also a big problem in the search. With thick underbrush and steep hills it is necessary to cover an area multiple times in order to be thorough.

Yes, the camo makes a difference and it is better now than it was when I was hunting in the deep South. But OTH, the dogs can make up for people would overlook. Your SAR dogs that track via the air rather than a scent on the ground would not be as likely to be confused by his multiple tracks if had made several visits over that section of land.

I just can't shake the feeling that they didn't find him on his land because he wasn't there.

 

[Faithandhope]

IMO he either deviated from the plan or he isn't there.

Does anyone know if they are opening searches to the public? It would be great to see some of his friends/family bring this case back to the light with some action.


Edited to add that maybe a really thorough search would help police be able to conclusively say he isn't there?

 

[vasportsmom]

IMO he either deviated from the plan or he isn't there.

Does anyone know if they are opening searches to the public? It would be great to see some of his friends/family bring this case back to the light with some action.


Edited to add that maybe a really thorough search would help police be able to conclusively say he isn't there?

If he deviated he was on foot so I doubt he would have went far. His phone was left at home so if he was meeting someone it was arranged before he left or he had a secret phone. Surely his phone records have been checked by now but I don't recall hearing anything about it.

Volunteer searches continued on after LE had called off the official search so I assume that was done with Dave's approval. Another WS'er and I were discussing more searches and the possibility of a group like TES being helpful on the FB page but the conversation was ignored by the entire family.

Initially I assumed that the family just didn't know what to do next or where to turn for help but I've arrived at the conclusion that they are putting all their eggs in the prayer & in God's time basket.

*I haven't forgot pics. It has been so rainy here and I've had a sick kid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Roselvr]

If he deviated he was on foot so I doubt he would have went far. His phone was left at home so if he was meeting someone it was arranged before he left or he had a secret phone. Surely his phone records have been checked by now but I don't recall hearing anything about it.

Volunteer searches continued on after LE had called off the official search so I assume that was done with Dave's approval. Another WS'er and I were discussing more searches and the possibility of a group like TES being helpful on the FB page but the conversation was ignored by the entire family.

Initially I assumed that the family just didn't know what to do next or where to turn for help but I've arrived at the conclusion that they are putting all their eggs in the prayer & in God's time basket.

*I haven't forgot pics. It has been so rainy here and I've had a sick kid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven't been home much to speak to anyone; would really like to try but his family is probab ly very broken hearted right now; had the 1 year then Thanksgiving; next Christmas which as we all know are "family holidays" so I'm not sure how any advice would be received.

I'm very curious about his cell phone records. I would assume they'd be checked. I also wish someone would confirm or deny in writing (news article) if he worked that week.

 

[Faithandhope]

I can certainly pray as well for the family, but if anyone gets interested in searching again, I could probably round up a couple of people to help.

 

[JnRyan]

Checked here and the news online. Nothing since the vigil in November. I can't believe this one is so hard to solve.

 

[sophiebelle]

I've never commented here, but I've followed and come to check. This is one of the odd and sad cases on WS.

 

[azure]

If the rumor that the wife called Eric in sick to work for multiple days is true, and no one saw him for days other than the wife, this is very hinky.

Are there any ponds on the property? Any large bodies of water nearby?

 

[sallye818]

I did not want to say this, but I felt the very same, azure. Unusual for her to have called in every day for him, I think...also, did she sort of tell people at church he was missing before calling LE? Not sure of this detail...hmmmm.

 

[vasportsmom]

If the rumor that the wife called Eric in sick to work for multiple days is true, and no one saw him for days other than the wife, this is very hinky.

Are there any ponds on the property? Any large bodies of water nearby?

I've been so busy and now I'm behind but I don't know of any ponds on the property and I think that probably would have been discussed a lot during the initial searches but I can't say with absolute certainty. The Clinch River is the largest body of water nearby but it isn't particularly deep in any area of Cedar Bluff (or Richlands for that matter).

The trash dump is located in The Cuts, very near where Eric is assumed to have disappeared from, but it would be extremely hard to dispose of a body there. Probationers are assigned to fulfill their community service there so there is almost always a person or two standing nearby to assist with unloading trash and making sure that nothing illegal is tossed in. There is no vehicle access after hours. I suppose that it would be possible to drag a bag or something under the gate and up the hill but I'm not sure what security precautions are in place other than closed gates on both sides.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vasportsmom]

I did not want to say this, but I felt the very same, azure. Unusual for her to have called in every day for him, I think...also, did she sort of tell people at church he was missing before calling LE? Not sure of this detail...hmmmm.

I'll have to go grab the link but she went to Eric's mother's church during Sunday evening service and informed her that he was missing. Much of the congregation left immediately and started searching. LE was called after this point but I can't get a clear answer on how much later. I have multiple family members that were at the church that evening and went to search but they aren't sure when LE arrived on scene either.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JnRyan]

I saw some recent activity here on the main forum and was hoping for good news.

The only logical, non-criminal reason I can think of for him to not be on the property is if he shot a deer and then tracked it off his property. But I heard they searched nearby properties as well.

 

[vasportsmom]

I saw some recent activity here on the main forum and was hoping for good news.

The only logical, non-criminal reason I can think of for him to not be on the property is if he shot a deer and then tracked it off his property. But I heard they searched nearby properties as well.

From all reports they (LE, dog teams, volunteers) really did a commendable job with the search. The mountain side was covered from bottom to top on both sides. The investigation has left a lot to be desired but the search did not. I wish they had organized more searches this Fall but I imagine that hunters kept their eyes open while scouring the mountainside anyway.

Eric's mother's posts have made it clear that she thinks someone is responsible for his disappearance. She has made countless comments similar to, we can't quote FB so paraphrasing, someone knows something and the truth will come out. I don't believe that she's wrong but I keep thinking about the Jaminson family in OK. It took 4 years for their remains to be found despite extensive searches and there are still no real answers.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JnRyan]

Just checking to see if there is any news and found this from this last Thursday:

http://tazewellstar.com/unsolved-mystery-of-eric-smiths-disappearance-baffles-tazewell-county/

So now LE is dependent on tips. I was hoping there would be more.

 

[Faithandhope]

no updates, just bumping because I find it so implausible that he would go out into the woods (his own backyard if I understand it correctly), no cell/wallet/nothing, and just never reappear.