Frances Smith, a 47-year-old Black woman, was found dead behind a residence on Bryden Road in Columbus, Ohio, on November 15, 2004. She had been strangled, had been beaten, and was discovered unclothed; investigators described the attack as particularly brutal. Smith had last been seen the night before at about 10:30 PM.

The Columbus Police Department investigated but no arrests were announced and the case remains unsolved. The Ohio Attorney General’s office continues to list Smith’s case among unsolved homicides and authorities are seeking tips that might lead to a resolution.

If anyone has information about Frances Smith, her movements on the night of November 14–15, 2004, or saw anything on Bryden Road around that time, please contact the investigators handling the case.