John Warren Smith Jr., 37, was last seen on April 26, 1996, in Santa Cruz, California, and is classified as an endangered missing person. His black 1985 Toyota pickup truck was found abandoned near mile marker 26.86 on Highway 9, a mountainous stretch with steep ravines. All of his belongings were left inside the vehicle, but Smith himself was not there and no trace of him has been found despite extensive searches.

Smith was reported to be struggling with depression at the time. He was a talented artist known for wood carvings and drawings and had two distinctive tattoos, including a sun on his left shoulder; the location of the other tattoo was not specified. Investigators continue to seek information about his whereabouts.

If anyone has any information about where John Warren Smith Jr. went after April 26, 1996, please contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department.