Israel Ray Smith, 28 MSG Since March 10, 2008 From Wytheville, VA

[Grande]

Police search for missing Wythe man
Mark Sage
Mon Apr 14, 2008 - 02:15 PM
By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

http://i26.tinypic.com/2cep1yb.jpg

A dedicated employee.
A thoughtful son.
And as of March 10, a missing person.
Capt. Rick Arnold of the Wytheville Police Department said during a phone interview on Thursday that his agency has been frustrated in its efforts to locate Israel Ray Smith since the department began an investigation on March 23 following a report by Smith’s family that he had gone missing.
“Nothing is turning up right now,” Arnold said.
Smith, 28, had been living in an apartment on Fulton Street in Wytheville prior to his disappearance, his family and police said.
In the weeks leading up to his disappearance and even on the last day he was seen, his family and co-workers said they didn’t notice anything unusual about Smith’s actions or demeanor.
“He said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’” said Charles May, Smith’s manager at Radio Shack in Wytheville, in recalling their innocuous goodbyes in the parking lot after closing up the store at 8 p.m. on March 10.
May said Smith had worked as a sales associate at the store since September 2007 and had been a model employee.
“I think he maybe missed two days the whole time he was here,” May said, adding that Smith always called ahead on the rare occasions that he had to miss a shift or was running a few minutes late. “It’s just totally uncharacteristic of him to do something like this. It just totally befuddled all of us.” Although May said he didn’t socialize with Smith outside of work, he said he never noticed anyone acting strangely around Smith at Radio Shack or any odd behavior by Smith himself.
Smith’s mother, Debbie Bates, who also lives in Wythe County, said she talked to her son on the phone on March 10 and had seen him just two weeks before. She also added that Smith visited his brother after work on March 10.
“It was very unusual circumstances that he would just disappear from the face of the earth,” she said.
Bates said nothing of note appeared to be missing from Smith’s apartment and that he had left his TV on and car unlocked.
Arnold confirmed that Smith seemed to have left behind his valuables and his vehicle.
“We are treating this as a bona fide adult missing person,” Arnold said. “For this area to have someone that has full mental and physical capacity to up and leave is very rare.”
Last week, though, Smyth County deputies began their own search for Justin Lee Martin, a 22-year-old man who left for work from his Walkers Creek-area home early on April 8 and never arrived at the Utility plant in Atkins for his 6 a.m. shift.
Bates said her son lived alone at his Wytheville residence. She added, though, that Smith has a 7-year-old son who lives with his mother in Pulaski County.
Bates said Smith and the boy’s mother never married and ended their relationship years ago, but she added that Smith still saw his son most weekends, often times visiting at Bates’ home.
Since Smith was reported missing, Arnold said the WPD has interviewed a number of people who knew Smith, including his family, friends and co-workers.
The captain added that the department is continuing to pursue leads, but couldn’t comment on the details of the ongoing investigation.
Bates said she and her family have been putting up fliers in the area asking people to call if they have any information regarding Smith’s whereabouts and have personally contacted a number of his friends dating back even to his elementary school days.
Phone records show Smith’s cell phone hasn’t been used since his disappearance and all of her calls to the device have gone to his voicemail or been met with an error message saying that voicemail isn’t available, Bates said.
She also said she provided the police with contacts from his MySpace page that she suspected might have spoken with him in the days leading up to his disappearance, but hasn’t heard any updates from the police regarding their ability to follow up on those leads.
Arnold said only that the police have found some details that may contradict some of the family’s theories and observations.
On Smith’s MySpace page, on which his last log-in was March 10, it lists his mood as “hopeful.” The page was created on Jan. 9 and last updated on March 8.
“new at this my space thing,” an “about me” posting on Smith’s page states. “will add better pictures later. drive a 4wd green explorer xlt with very dark tinted windows. moved here from bristol in may of ‘06. attended college at vhcc in abingdon, va to acquire degree in electronics. plan to attend wcc in the fall to become a certified electrician. was sound engineer for christian rock band. currently work as as a home theater specialist/salesman. plan to start own custom install business. will probably move to Hawaii one day. when not working I write songs and enjoy listening to classic rock as I watch the sun set...”
He lists himself as a white male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall with an “athletic” body type. Under his movie interests, he said that he likes “anything exciting and unpredictable” and he lists his general interests as “electronics, philosophy, outdoors, music, movies, concerts, writing music, laughter, meaningful experiences with people that are real.”
As day after day passes without word from her son, Bates said it gets harder and harder to remain hopeful.
She said she’s “just trying to make it through from one day to the next.”
“I fall apart every now and then,” Bates said. “We would like some type of closure.”
Arnold said that anyone with information regarding Smith’s disappearance or his current whereabouts should call Investigator Gary Davenport at (276) 223-3307.
Bates also encouraged people to call her at (276) 621-5255, (276) 780-1250 or (276) 239-0054 if they have any news about her son.
Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or nhubbard@wythenews.com.

http://www.swvatoday.com/comments/police_search_for_missing_wythe_man/news/2216/

[Roamer]

My heart goes out to his family, and I hope he's found safely.

[Faith]

There are no more articles about this young man. I find that strange too.

[KittyMom]

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=312630823

His myspace

[KittyMom]

http://www.swvatoday.com/comments/police_search_for_missing_wythe_man/news/2216/

I am the mother of Israel’s son. I am just hoping and praying that if anyone knows anything, they will please contact the police or his mother and let us know. His son is missing his father very much and he talks about him everyday and is crying for his daddy. It hurts me to see my son hurt so bad...he is only 7 years old and I don’t know what to tell him when he ask to go to his daddy’s house, or call his daddy. So I’m begging everyone...if anybody know anything please respond or something.

With hopeful prayers that he be found..

Posted by 1hopefulmom from on 04/16 at 12:32 PM

[msdavis7la]

I don't know why there are no more articles about Is. I worked with him, before he transferred to Radio Shack. We had many long talks about faith, life, love, his son. He's far from perfect, but all he ever wanted was someone to love him. I'm very scared to hear the outcome of his missing. I do know the police subpoenaed his phone records. It was just so odd, though. Is isn't the type to just up and disappear. Nor is he one to leave with his tv on, door open, etc. My first thought was that he just didn't want to be found, until I knew about the tv/door. It took two weeks for the police to search for him, because he is an adult. There has to be proof of mental incapacity before they will search for him. Please pray that he is found alive and well. Please, please pray.

[Roamer]

Welcome to our forum, and our prayers are that your friend will be found safely.

[KittyMom]

I don't know why there are no more articles about Is. I worked with him, before he transferred to Radio Shack. We had many long talks about faith, life, love, his son. He's far from perfect, but all he ever wanted was someone to love him. I'm very scared to hear the outcome of his missing. I do know the police subpoenaed his phone records. It was just so odd, though. Is isn't the type to just up and disappear. Nor is he one to leave with his tv on, door open, etc. My first thought was that he just didn't want to be found, until I knew about the tv/door. It took two weeks for the police to search for him, because he is an adult. There has to be proof of mental incapacity before they will search for him. Please pray that he is found alive and well. Please, please pray.

Welcome! Have you seen any missing posters in your town for Israel?

[msdavis7la]

Welcome! Have you seen any missing posters in your town for Israel?

Thankfully, yes. That was how I first found out he was missing. Fliers for him (and Justin Martin, whose body was just found :-/) have been posted everywhere! I hope it helps w/ Is.

[Faith]

Police suspect foul play in case of missing Wytheville man

Published: April 23, 2008

Debbie Bates usually talks to her son, Israel, several times a week. But says now she only needs one phone call to know that he’s all right.

A Wytheville man is missing, and police say they suspect foul play.

28-year-old Israel Smith was last seen more than a month ago, on March 11th. His family filed a missing person’s report on March 23rd.

Debbie Bates usually talks to her son, Israel, several times a week. But says now she only needs one phone call to know that he’s all right. “All kind of things go through my mind from day to day minute to minute trying to hold out hope for a long time just waiting to hear some good news,” Debbie Bates told us.

Bates says her son doesn’t suffer from any medical condition and is very intelligent. She says he’s too smart to just disappear without telling anyone. An police agree. They started investigating last month.

“We’ve searched back roads, anything, anybody we could. People been on MySpace trying to find out anything from people that he had contact with maybe… My family hired a private investigator.”

His bosses at radio shack are also worried. “It’s totally out of character for him not to show up to work. He was always here. If he couldn’t be here, he called,” Charles May, the manager at the Radio Shack told us.

The store manager tells us they called Israel’s cell phone, sent text messages, even left voice mails, and still no word from Israel. That’s when the store owner called police.

They went to his apartment, on the corner of Fulton and 5th, to perform a welfare check. That’s where they found his SUV unlocked with the keys inside. His apartment was also unlocked and the television was on. All reasons that investigators, and his mother, suspect foul play.

“I wish we’d hear something..not a minute goes by I don’t wish we’d hear something good news. I want it to be good news.”

“If anybody out there knows anything please let us know.”

If you have any information about Israel Smith, you’re asked to call the Wytheville Police department, (276) 223-3300.

Video
http://www.wsls.com (http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/police_suspect_foul_play_in_case_of_missing_wythev ille_man/9788/)

[msdavis7la]

Police suspect foul play in case of missing Wytheville man

Published: April 23, 2008

Debbie Bates usually talks to her son, Israel, several times a week. But says now she only needs one phone call to know that he’s all right.

A Wytheville man is missing, and police say they suspect foul play.

28-year-old Israel Smith was last seen more than a month ago, on March 11th. His family filed a missing person’s report on March 23rd.

Debbie Bates usually talks to her son, Israel, several times a week. But says now she only needs one phone call to know that he’s all right. “All kind of things go through my mind from day to day minute to minute trying to hold out hope for a long time just waiting to hear some good news,” Debbie Bates told us.

Bates says her son doesn’t suffer from any medical condition and is very intelligent. She says he’s too smart to just disappear without telling anyone. An police agree. They started investigating last month.

“We’ve searched back roads, anything, anybody we could. People been on MySpace trying to find out anything from people that he had contact with maybe… My family hired a private investigator.”

His bosses at radio shack are also worried. “It’s totally out of character for him not to show up to work. He was always here. If he couldn’t be here, he called,” Charles May, the manager at the Radio Shack told us.

The store manager tells us they called Israel’s cell phone, sent text messages, even left voice mails, and still no word from Israel. That’s when the store owner called police.

They went to his apartment, on the corner of Fulton and 5th, to perform a welfare check. That’s where they found his SUV unlocked with the keys inside. His apartment was also unlocked and the television was on. All reasons that investigators, and his mother, suspect foul play.

“I wish we’d hear something..not a minute goes by I don’t wish we’d hear something good news. I want it to be good news.”

“If anybody out there knows anything please let us know.”

If you have any information about Israel Smith, you’re asked to call the Wytheville Police department, (276) 223-3300.

Video
http://www.wsls.com (http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/police_suspect_foul_play_in_case_of_missing_wythev ille_man/9788/)

I was just logging in to post this. I was glad to see he finally got some news attention. Maybe it will help. I hate going everywhere and seeing his bright blue eyes shining...from a "missing poster." All of this is so out of character for him. :(

[KittyMom]

http://www.southwesttimes.com/news.php?id=1793

Police Department seeking information on Smith’s whereabouts
Staff & Wire Reports,
04-21-2008

WYTHEVILLE — A Wytheville man with connections to Pulaski County has been missing for more than a month.

None of Israel Ray Smith’s friends or family members have heard from him since March 10.
The Wytheville Police Department has been searching for Smith, 28, since March 23, following a report by Smith’s family that he had gone missing, according to an article from the Wytheville Enterprise.
The article also stated that Capt. Rick Arnold of the Wytheville Police Department said that his agency has been “frustrated” in its efforts to locate Smith, and said “nothing is turning up right now.”
Prior to his disappearance, Smith had been living alone in an apartment on Fulton Street in Wytheville and was an employee at Radio Shack, according to the article, which also stated that Smith has a 7-year-old son who he saw often on weekends, who lives with his mother here in Pulaski County.
The Enterprise article also stated that in the weeks leading up to his disappearance, and even on the last day he was seen, his family and co-workers said they didn’t notice anything unusual about Smith’s actions or demeanor.
Arnold confirmed that Smith seemed to have left behind his valuables and his vehicle.
Arnold said, “We are treating this as a bona fide missing person. For this area to have someone that has full mental and physical capacity to up and leave is very rare,” according to the article, which also stated that the Wytheville Police Department is still continuing to pursue leads in the investigation of Smith’s whereabouts.
Anyone with information regarding Smith’s disappearance or his current whereabouts should call Investigator Gary Davenport at (276) 223-3307.
Debbie Bates, who is Smith’s mother, has also encouraged people to contact her with information at (276) 621-5255, (276) 780-1250 or (276) 239-0054.

[Roamer]

I'm so sorry to hear he's still missing.

[Grande]

Missing man remains a mystery
Tue Jun 10, 2008 - 03:57 PM
By NATE HUBBARD/Staff

With Tuesday marking three months since Israel Ray Smith went missing, his mother, Debbie Bates, said she’s begun to deal with the possibility that she may never see him again.

“I’ve been trying to just continue going on each day, just hoping for answers,” Bates said Monday afternoon. “As time passes and time passes it just gets harder and harder.”

Smith, 28, disappeared on March 10 after finishing up a regular shift at his job with Wytheville’s Radio Shack outlet.

The Smyth County native had been living in an apartment on East Fulton Street in Wytheville prior to his disappearance.

When Wytheville Police Department investigators initially checked Smith’s apartment in March, nothing of note appeared to be missing and his car was found unlocked.

Capt. Rick Arnold of the WPD said Monday that there were no new updates in the case. “We’re just still considering it an ongoing investigation,” Arnold said.

On the Web site of the North American Missing Persons Network, a profile for Smith remained under a “Hot Cases” tab late Tuesday morning. The network, though, defines hot cases as being within three months of the person’s disappearance so Smith’s profile will likely be moved away from the prominent portion of the Web site within the next few days.

Although the police department’s investigation, which started about two weeks after Smith went missing, also is nearing the three-month threshold, Arnold said there still has been no solid evidence to suggest that Smith was harmed.

“There’s nothing that’s indicating foul play at this time,” the captain said.
But as she said when Smith first went missing, Bates remained convinced that her son couldn’t have simply up and left without a trace.

Smith’s own son, who lives in Smyth County with his mother, just turned 8, Bates said, and has been struggling with his dad’s disappearance.

Bates, who herself lives in Wythe County, said her grandson has been asking why he can no longer visit his daddy’s apartment and why his daddy wasn’t at his birthday party.

“He would never go off and leave his son,” Bates said about Smith.
And while Bates said she has remained in regular contact with WPD Investigator Gary Davenport, who is working the case and who she said conducted additional interviews within the last week, she added that her frustrations keep increasing as the days continue to pass without answers.
Arnold said missing persons cases are never closed until the return of the person or the discovery of a body, but at this point he said the department has exhausted its main sources on the Smith case.

“We’ve interviewed everyone that we can,” Arnold said, naming family, friends and co-workers of Smith as people that have been contacted.
Anyone with information regarding Smith’s disappearance or his current whereabouts should call Davenport at (276) 223-3307. Bates also encouraged people to call her at (276) 621-5255, (276) 780-1250 or (276) 239-0054 if they have any news about her son.

Bates said she’s been trying to live her life as normally as possible since Smith’s disappearance. But she said her strong outer shell has been crumbling lately.

When reached Monday, Bates said she had taken the day off from work as her emotions had become too much for her to give proper attention to her job. A day in May also was especially difficult as Bates said she had to clean out her son’s apartment and collect his belongings. She added that even seemingly innocuous landmarks cause her thoughts to darken as she now views such things as lakes and bridges as possible places where her son’s body could have been discarded if he was in fact harmed.

“I can’t really enjoy anything,” Bates said through sobs, catching her breath to add that the outpouring of support from family and friends during the agonizing past three months has been her only saving grace. “Every day it’s been hard to get out of bed and go to work.”

At this point, Bates said her hope that Smith will show up safe and sound has dwindled and she’s mostly resigned herself to “hoping and praying he wasn’t tortured.”

“This is constantly with me, 24/7, and I don’t sleep,” she said. “I just need some answers.”

Nate Hubbard can be reached at 228-6611 or nhubbard@wythenews.com.

http://www.swvatoday.com/comments/missing_man_remains_a_mystery/news/2833/

[Faith]

This is so sad. Prayers for the family. :1222423:

[msdavis7la]

I do believe they are doing what they can. Some days, I get so upset. I was just Israel's friend...I can't imagine how hard it is for his family. For me, though, it's like it hits me all of a sudden. We used to work at Dairy Queen together. I haven't worked any this summer (that's the only time I usually work, because I'm a full-time teacher), because when I walk in there, and see the picture on the window, a wave of grief hits me. The police have talked to family and friends...I know this, because I haven't taken his number out of my phone (I can't). When I first saw he went missing, I dialed his number to talk to him. They called me in, wanting to know why I called him. They're interviewing lots and lots of people. Please keep praying for his family and friends.

[Grande]

Israel's friends and family will remain in my thoughts and prayers! I check daily for updates, hoping for resolution in this case. Never give up hope. We will be here for the duration waiting and praying for Israel's safe return.

:1222423:

[msdavis7la]

:groan: Still nothing on Is. I worked a few shifts @ DQ this summer. Our convos always came around to him. Made for some solemn shifts. I don't think I'll be going back to work there very often. I can't deal with it. I still have his number in my phone. It seems to final if I delete it. The investigator told me it didn't look good. 4 months and 16 days. :(

[Roamer]

Thank you for the update, and I'm very sorry to hear there's been no news.

[packy]

So sad that nothing has come up yet to help find him. I thought maybe his disappearance may have been related to Justin Martin's but then they found Justin and the preliminary determination was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Did the autopsy confirm that? Last posted article said the autopsy was pending.

Israel's keys were in the car and I wonder if he did sometimes leave the keys. If he ran out to his car for something then maybe it's possible he was confronted while in the car. Could there be prints?

I'm so sorry that he hasn't been found yet.

[Faith]

:groan: Still nothing on Is. I worked a few shifts @ DQ this summer. Our convos always came around to him. Made for some solemn shifts. I don't think I'll be going back to work there very often. I can't deal with it. I still have his number in my phone. It seems to final if I delete it. The investigator told me it didn't look good. 4 months and 16 days. :(

I'm so very sorry he hasn't been found. My best thoughts to you and your family. :love0085:

[SavannahStar]

I do believe they are doing what they can. Some days, I get so upset. I was just Israel's friend...I can't imagine how hard it is for his family. For me, though, it's like it hits me all of a sudden. We used to work at Dairy Queen together. I haven't worked any this summer (that's the only time I usually work, because I'm a full-time teacher), because when I walk in there, and see the picture on the window, a wave of grief hits me. The police have talked to family and friends...I know this, because I haven't taken his number out of my phone (I can't). When I first saw he went missing, I dialed his number to talk to him. They called me in, wanting to know why I called him. They're interviewing lots and lots of people. Please keep praying for his family and friends.


I'm so sorry! All of his loved ones and friends are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope there is a good outcome.

This thread was on the front page tonight and I immediately clicked on it....many years ago I knew someone from Wytheville. I've driven though there.

:1222423:

[annalyzer]

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/smith_israel.html

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/smith_israel.html

[msdavis7la]

Just thought I would post this, in case anyone was still checking updates. :-(

http://www.swvatoday.com/comments/memorial_service_to_honor_missing_man/news/5006/

Memorial service to honor missing man
Mark Sage
Wytheville Enterprise: News > Smyth County News: News > Washington County News: News >
Tue Apr 14, 2009 - 06:02 PM

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

A service honoring the memory of Israel Ray Smith, a 29-year-old Wytheville man who vanished without a trace over a year ago, has been set. It will be held Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m. at Door of Hope Fellowship, 878 Shuler Hollow Road in Chilhowie, with Pastor John Chapman officiating.
“It’s been over a year,” remarked Smith’s mother, Debbie Bates. “We’ve done everything we can as a family and there’s been no word from him. We want to do something to bring as much closure as we can.”
When Smith, an employee of Radio Shack in Wytheville, failed to arrive at work on March 10, 2008, his boss contacted the Wytheville Police Department. Smith’s apartment was unlocked as was his vehicle.
According to Capt. Rick Arnold, there is an ongoing investigation into Smith’s disappearance. It is no longer a primary investigation.
“That’s not to say we aren’t still concerned,” Arnold said earlier this week. “We’ve exhausted all avenues. We’ve not heard anything more.”
Bates said she has no contact with the police department since August 2008.
“I do think he’s dead,” Bates stated. “I never did think he was alive when no one in the family heard from him.”
The memorial service, she said, will give family and friends a chance to honor Smith and pay their respects.
“He was the oldest grandson,” his mother pointed out. “All the cousins looked up to him.”
Smith’s grandparents, Kyle and Joyce Sexton live in Smyth County. Smith’s older brother, Daniel Smith, resides in Wytheville.
Door of Hope Fellowship is located near Joines Meat Processing Plant in Chilhowie.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com .

[packy]

Thank you, MsDavis. I hope they get a huge turnout and keeping his story out there may bring some new leads.

[grammybears]

This is so sad. I feel so bad for the entire family. Israel sounds like he was a very responsible young man and would not do anything to make his family worry unnecessarily.
My prayers go with all of them and I hope they will have answers soon.

[Faith]

Still missing.

http://www.nampn.org/cases/smith_israel.html

[annalyzer]

still listed

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/smith_israel.html