Account
Oct 16, 2014
Dec 20, 2023
Eric
Smith
52
42
73 inches
74 inches
210 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
On the morning of November 8, 2013, Eric Grady Smith, a 42-year-old man from Cedar Bluff, Virginia, told his wife he was going hunting on their property. An experienced hunter, he left his home on foot, dressed in camouflage and carrying a .50-caliber muzzleloader. When he didn't come back by that evening, his wife grew concerned and alerted his family and the authorities. This initiated an extensive search of the rugged terrain around his home. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, search and rescue teams, and community volunteers, no trace of Eric or his rifle was ever found. Peculiarly, he had left behind his wallet, cell phone, and cigarettes, items his mother said he would have normally taken with him, especially since as a mine superintendent, he was always on call. The investigation into Eric's disappearance revealed some unusual circumstances in the week leading up to the day he went missing. He had recently returned from a week-long business trip to Atlanta. His wife had called in sick for him at his job as a general foreman for the Consol Coal Company, and he remained on sick leave for five days. This was reportedly out of character for the conscientious and respected supervisor who was in charge of over 500 people. He did not contact anyone from work during this time, which was also considered unusual behavior for someone in his position. Two days before he disappeared, he emailed his employer to say he was feeling better and planned to go hunting before returning to work that Saturday. Over the years, the case has grown cold, though it has never been closed. Authorities have followed up on various leads, including a tip in 2014 that his body would be found near Daw Road, and another in 2016 to search a mine in the Red Ash area, but both searches yielded nothing. The initial belief that Eric may have had an accident in the woods has been largely dismissed due to the complete lack of evidence found during the exhaustive searches. His family does not believe he would have voluntarily abandoned his life, his wife, and his two daughters. In November 2022, investigators announced a significant shift in the case, stating they were now investigating his disappearance as a homicide. The overview of this case is that of a dedicated family man and respected professional who seemingly vanished without a trace from his own property, leaving behind a perplexing mystery and a family desperate for answers.
Nov 08, 2013
Cedar Bluff
Virginia
Tazewell County
24609
15920
Virginia State Police
Lebanon
Virginia
,
13-84-02-5029
2013-11-08
Virginia State Police
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/24/2026
