The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source: (WVLT)
Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:31 PM
Search Continues For Missing Crown College Student Blake Smith Two Days After Disapperance; Body Found Near Georges Creek Close To Where Officials Found Smith's Car
Just before 3 p.m. Monday, the Blount County Sheriff's Office said they found a male body in Georges Creek, close to the construction site on Ballards Way in Louisville where deputies found Smith's car.
Investigators did not identify the body as Smith Monday. Authorities said they were not certain whether the body belongs to the missing 20-year-old.
On Monday afternoon, the Blount County Sheriff's Office said the autopsy on the body would be performed on Tuesday, and the identity of the body would not be released before the autopsy was completed.
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.
Smith said his son's car, a 2014 gold Toyota Camry, was found in Blount County.
"The car was located at a construction site," Smith said. "The car was still running, door was open and no sign of our son."
The Blount County Sheriff's Office said that construction site is off Ballards Way in Louisville. BCSO added the car had crashed into a deck at the construction site, and that Smith's phone and other personal belongings were found near in his car.
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," Smith said. "The condition of the car; he loved his car. He’s had it probably less than a year ... there’s something going on here."
Jim Smith said he first realized something was unusual late Saturday when he used app he uses to track his son's location to zoom in on residential location. Smith said he knew something was wrong when he woke up the next morning and saw Blake was still at the same location.
"I called his roommate in the dorm and he said he didn’t make it in that night," Smith said. "At that point, I became alarmed and began making phone calls to security at Crown College."
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.
"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."
Investigators, Smith's family and several volunteers acted on that tip, crowding Admiral Farragut Park to search for the 20-year-old man.
“We are praying for (Blake Smith's family)," Crown College's statement read. "Knox County Sheriffs Office has asked us to let them to their job, and that’s all we can say at this moment.”
The search has since moved to Blount County. Local 8 News reporter Donovan Long said K9s and KCSO helicopters were on standby in Blount County, adding that BCSO currently is using drones to get an aerial view of the scene. This drone is how BCSO said it found the body during its search for Blake Smith.
The man's coworker, Chris Mays, made a desperate plea to help bring Blake Smith home Sunday night. Mays said he last saw him 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 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.
They said Blake is about 5'10" and 150 pounds. Anyone with information on Smith's disappearance can call BCSO's investigative unit at 865-273-5001, or report a tip anonymously at 865-273-5200.