Family of Missing Garland County Man Awaits Answers
By: Marci Manley, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 16, 2012
Law enforcement officials say there's no evidence to lead them either way to determine if the case of Neal Smith is truly a missing person's case or a foul play investigation. After three weeks missing, details remain unclear.
"I don't want to think the worst. I want to believe he's out there," she said, staring down at a picture of her son.
Aside from photos, Theda Smith hasn't seen her youngest son in 21 days.
"That's my baby. I got four boys. That's my baby," she said sobbing. "The last time I saw him was on July 27th. He came by work, told me he was just dropping by and was about to head to Malvern. He said he would talk to me later, told me he loved me."
Neal Smith, 25, was allegedly last seen by friends while riding four-wheelers near Lonsdale on July 29th. However, authorities say those friends' accounts of what happened have been conflicting.
"We've gotten a lot of stories so far, and none of them match up," Smith's brother Jeremy James said. "Obviously we weren't there that night, we don't know what happened. But I don't think it should be hard to get the details straight if you don't have anything to hide."
According to Smith's friends, they last saw him at a gate at the end of Glasgow Road in Garland County, before he road off on the ATV into the woods by himself.
Garland County Sheriff's Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, searched the wooded area last week. But those efforts were eventually discontinued, with authorities saying the area is simply too large to search and no signs of Smith were ever found. So far, there have been no developments since.
"That's definitely not like him to come up missing for that long. Either he's done something and is on the run, or somebody has done something with him," James said.
Some folks have continued to search the area on their own, bringing out four-wheelers, horses, and even dogs to scout the area. We're told there are thousands of acres of woodlands in the 15 mile radius authorities believe Smith would be if he is still out in the woods.
"I'm 50-50 right now," James said. "I get the feeling he's still alive out there. Maybe he's running from something or hiding, whatever that would be we don't know. Then there are times where I think someone's done something to him and isn't telling the truth."
James has been chasing down leads across the state, as well. So far, all have turned out to be dead ends.
"People call me and tell me they might have seen him here or there. We get there and the people tell us they haven't seen him for a month or six months," James said. "We think we have something going and it's like someone pop's your balloon."
James and Theda are both asking for folks to only call them with a tip if they can verify it's actually Neal and keep him in the location until either they or law enforcement can get there to pick him up.
"I'm willing to give someone $1,000 to do that. If they see him, and keep him there for us to bring him back home. It's worth it to us to have that closure; it's worth it to us to have him back," James said.
After three weeks, conflicting stories from witnesses, and the possibility that bad habits could have Smith on the run, his family is reaching out to the public.
"If Neal's out there and able to see this, or if his friends are able to see this and know where he is. I want him to know that we want him to come home. We'll all stand behind him. We're here for him no matter what. I just need him to come home, because the not knowing can drive you crazy," Theda Smith said.
"He's not been found. He's not forgotten and we're still suffering as if it's day one," James said. "It's hard. We just want the truth, whichever way it goes."
Neal's family family is hoping someone somewhere can shed a little light on what's become the darkest time in their lives.
If you do know Neal's whereabouts and can keep him in that location until the family can arrive, James would like you to give him a call at 501-617-5545.
You can also contact the Garland County Sheriff's office at 501-622-3660.
"I don't want to think the worst. I want to believe he's out there," she said, staring down at a picture of her son.
Aside from photos, Theda Smith hasn't seen her youngest son in 21 days.
"That's my baby. I got four boys. That's my baby," she said sobbing. "The last time I saw him was on July 27th. He came by work, told me he was just dropping by and was about to head to Malvern. He said he would talk to me later, told me he loved me."
Neal Smith, 25, was allegedly last seen by friends while riding four-wheelers near Lonsdale on July 29th. However, authorities say those friends' accounts of what happened have been conflicting.
"We've gotten a lot of stories so far, and none of them match up," Smith's brother Jeremy James said. "Obviously we weren't there that night, we don't know what happened. But I don't think it should be hard to get the details straight if you don't have anything to hide."
According to Smith's friends, they last saw him at a gate at the end of Glasgow Road in Garland County, before he road off on the ATV into the woods by himself.
Garland County Sheriff's Office, along with other law enforcement agencies, searched the wooded area last week. But those efforts were eventually discontinued, with authorities saying the area is simply too large to search and no signs of Smith were ever found. So far, there have been no developments since.
"That's definitely not like him to come up missing for that long. Either he's done something and is on the run, or somebody has done something with him," James said.
Some folks have continued to search the area on their own, bringing out four-wheelers, horses, and even dogs to scout the area. We're told there are thousands of acres of woodlands in the 15 mile radius authorities believe Smith would be if he is still out in the woods.
"I'm 50-50 right now," James said. "I get the feeling he's still alive out there. Maybe he's running from something or hiding, whatever that would be we don't know. Then there are times where I think someone's done something to him and isn't telling the truth."
James has been chasing down leads across the state, as well. So far, all have turned out to be dead ends.
"People call me and tell me they might have seen him here or there. We get there and the people tell us they haven't seen him for a month or six months," James said. "We think we have something going and it's like someone pop's your balloon."
James and Theda are both asking for folks to only call them with a tip if they can verify it's actually Neal and keep him in the location until either they or law enforcement can get there to pick him up.
"I'm willing to give someone $1,000 to do that. If they see him, and keep him there for us to bring him back home. It's worth it to us to have that closure; it's worth it to us to have him back," James said.
After three weeks, conflicting stories from witnesses, and the possibility that bad habits could have Smith on the run, his family is reaching out to the public.
"If Neal's out there and able to see this, or if his friends are able to see this and know where he is. I want him to know that we want him to come home. We'll all stand behind him. We're here for him no matter what. I just need him to come home, because the not knowing can drive you crazy," Theda Smith said.
"He's not been found. He's not forgotten and we're still suffering as if it's day one," James said. "It's hard. We just want the truth, whichever way it goes."
Neal's family family is hoping someone somewhere can shed a little light on what's become the darkest time in their lives.
If you do know Neal's whereabouts and can keep him in that location until the family can arrive, James would like you to give him a call at 501-617-5545.
You can also contact the Garland County Sheriff's office at 501-622-3660.
