The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source: Fox News
Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:31 PM
Frantic Search Continues For 20-Year Old Crown College Student
Smith's family urged people on social media to help in the search at the park on Monday morning.
Blake's father, Jim Smith, traveled from Trussville, Ala. to Knox County to search for his son.
"We are just distraught this type of thing has happened. We're hoping someone has seen something or noticed something unusual," Smith said.
Blake Smith's family commented that they believe foul play is involved in his disappearance.
"Certainly I think there was foul play going on here. This is not something that would’ve happened. The condition of the car, he loved his car. He’s had it probably less than a year...There’s something going on here," Smith said.
Smith mentioned that he used a tracking app late Saturday evening and zoomed in on the residential location. Smith said he knew something was wrong when he saw that Blake's location had not moved when he woke up in the morning.
"I called his roommate in the dorm and he said he didn’t make it in that night, and at that point I became alarmed and began making phone calls to security at Crown College," Smith told Local 8 News.
Family members said they were thankful to receive a tip from someone on Facebook about the last picture on Blake Smith's Instagram story.
"This is the last place that Blake had took a picture. He took an Instagram story picture here looking out in the direction over the water and fortunately somebody put it on Facebook, and we were able to identity it and that’s why we are here looking," Smith explained. "He’s always enjoyed hiking and going in the wood, so I guess he came here to go hiking. And we don’t know if anything happened here at this park or if it was somewhere else but this is last place that we have information of where he was."
Smith described Blake Smith's vehicle as a 2014 gold Toyota Camry. The Knox County Sheriff's Office announced Monday that Smith's car was found in Blount County.
Reporter Donovan Long learned that Smith's car was found off Ballard Way in Blount County with the engine still running. The Blount County Sheriff said Smith's phone was found in his car along with other personal belongings.
Chris Mays made a desperate plea to help bring his coworker and friend home.
Mays said he last saw the 20-year-old man on Friday, as he was leaving their workplace, Weed Man Lawn Care.
"If you know anything — anybody — please help," Mays said. "Blake is a good person; his family just wants answers."
Mays said Smith is studying at Crown College and has hopes to become a pastor one day. Mays added that Smith always is cheerful, kindhearted and that he even prayed for him when he needed it the most.
Mays said Smith's disappearance doesn't make sense.
"It brought tears to my eyes," Mays said. "Just being worried for him and his family because I've got two boys of my own. Just knowing that if one of them went missing, how I would feel."
BCSO said they're working with the Knox County Sheriff's Office to bring Smith home. Anyone with information on Smith's disappearance can call BCSO at 865-273-5200.
