Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP40398) and 5 other sources
In the winter of 1980, a 30-year-old man named Eddie Korey Smith vanished from the streets of Phoenix, Arizona. His family last had contact with him sometime in February of that year, marking the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty. Smith, an American Indian / Alaska Native, was known to live a transient lifestyle in the Phoenix area. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Distinctive features included a scar on one of his eyes, a scar on his lower leg, and a tattoo of a knife on one of his arms.

The circumstances surrounding Eddie Smith's disappearance remain largely unknown, with very few details available to the public. His case is being handled by the Phoenix Police Department and is classified as an endangered missing person case. Despite the passage of many years, the investigation has yielded little information to shed light on what might have happened to him. The lack of concrete leads has made it difficult for both law enforcement and his family to find any sense of closure. The transient nature of his life at the time adds another layer of complexity to the investigation, as it is unclear who he might have been with or where he might have gone after his last contact with family.

Decades have passed since Eddie Smith was last seen or heard from, and his case has grown cold. The Phoenix area, a large and ever-expanding metropolis, has a significant number of unsolved missing persons and homicide cases, which can be particularly challenging to resolve due to the transient population. For the families of the missing, the lack of answers is a source of ongoing pain and makes it incredibly difficult to move forward. Although technological advancements in forensic science, such as DNA testing, have offered hope in some cold cases, the trail for Eddie Smith has remained elusive. His case stands as a somber reminder of the many individuals who have disappeared without a trace, leaving behind families to grapple with the ambiguity and a void that may never be filled.

Last Seen: Feb 1, 1980

Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1913
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1913 • Found Jul 10, 1987
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Native American
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 82%121 lb vs 150–155 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona - unidentified case UP11059
John Doe — Maricopa, Arizona
UP11059 • Found Apr 14, 1983
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30 when missing
Location 95%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
Weight 98%133 lb vs 150–155 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Scottsdale, Arizona - unidentified case UP77
John Doe — Scottsdale, Arizona
UP77 • Found May 20, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–34 vs 30 when missing
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
Weight 94%130 lb vs 150–155 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona
UP1922 • Found Jun 19, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30 when missing
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150–155 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1934
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1934 • Found Aug 4, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 84%5'2" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%135 lb vs 150–155 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.