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Case Description

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James Earl Smith, 35, was last seen on June 22, 2016, in Portland, Oregon. He left to pick up dinner that evening but never returned home. His sudden disappearance was out of character, as he had missed several days of work, which prompted concern from his family. Four days after he went missing, his vehicle was found abandoned near Promontory Park, a heavily forested area outside Estacada, Oregon.

Search and rescue teams launched an extensive search in the area where his car was discov ...Read More
Last Seen: Jun 22, 2016

Victim Details

Jul 13, 2016

Jan 04, 2024

James

Smith

43

35

72 inches

73 inches

155 lbs

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the summer of 2016, a 35-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, named James Earl Smith, disappeared under unsettling circumstances. On June 22nd, he left his home to get dinner and never came back. His wife reported him missing to the Portland Police Bureau on June 24, 2016, after he failed to return home and missed several days of work, which was described as being highly out of character for him. Smith was a white male, standing at six feet to six feet one inch tall, and weighing between 155 and 170 pounds. He had red or auburn hair, blue eyes, and a beard. A notable feature was a star tattoo on the back of his neck. The initial search for James Smith took a significant turn when his black 2006 Scion XB was discovered abandoned. The vehicle was located in a remote, heavily forested area in Clackamas County, a few miles from Promontory Park near Estacada. The discovery of the car prompted an extensive search of the surrounding area. Search and rescue teams, including the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and volunteers from Mountain Wave Search & Rescue, were deployed to comb the dense terrain. An Oregon National Guard helicopter crew also participated in the search, providing aerial support in the hope of locating any sign of the missing man. Despite the comprehensive search efforts, no trace of James Smith was found. After exhausting all available leads and finding no new information to guide their efforts, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office made the difficult decision to suspend the active search. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain a mystery. He left for a simple errand and vanished, leaving behind only his vehicle in a secluded, wooded area. The case remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and friends who continue to hope for answers.

Jun 22, 2016

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

No

18537

Portland Police Bureau

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

97204

Heidi Helwig

Detective

1111 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Oregon

5038230400

Local

Law Enforcement

16-201535

2016-06-24

Portland Police Bureau

Red/Auburn

Blue

Blue

06/04/2026


Area Last Seen: