Shantina Smiley and Son Missing (PICTURES): Vanished into "Thin Air"

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Missing

Shantina Smiley (Credit: Personal Photo)

SEATTLE (CBS/AP) Police have yet to turn up any solid leads in the weekend disappearance of Shantina Smiley and her 8-year-old son Azriel Carver, despite searches by divers, boats and aircraft.

PICTURES: Shantina Smiley and Son Missing

The 29-year-old Smiley, of Silverdale, and her son were en route from their Kitsap County home to her stepfather's house in southwest Washington when they vanished. Silverdale is about 16 miles west of Seattle.

Shantina Smiley and Aziel Carver (Credit: Personal Photo)

"It's almost like she vanished out of thin air," said Chelsie Woodard, Smiley's stepsister.

The van Smiley drove was found Sunday, abandoned and partially submerged in water on a remote Puget Sound beach.

PICTURES: Shantina Smiley and Son Missing

Investigators were talking to people who know Smiley or her son and those who may have met her as she drove through the back roads of Washington State on Saturday night. Her fiance, Robb Simmons said Tuesday that Smiley is a recovering alcoholic who relapsed last week, KING-TV reported.

Aziel Carver (Credit: Personal Photo)

Simmons said she had been under stress lately. He had been having health issues and fears he might have cancer, and suggested this past week that they get married, he added.

But he said he doesn't believe the relapse played any role in her disappearance.

"The idea she would stop and drink is not a realistic thing," he told the television station. "I do not see her doing that, I don't see her doing that, putting herself at risk, getting in trouble with the law, putting her son at risk."

PICTURES: Shantina Smiley and Son Missing

Carie Tonovitz, of Silverdale, said in an e-mail Tuesday that Smiley was a good mother who was very wrapped up in her son's life.

Detectives say they're trying to learn all they can about Smiley's emotional state.

"I'm trying to be optimistic. I'm trying to be hopeful," Simmons told KOMO Radio on Tuesday. "I just want to hear that she's safe."

Anyone with information on Smiley and her son's whereabouts should call Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222 or the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500.

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PICTURES: Shantina Smiley and Son Missing

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March 16, 2010 - Shantina Smiley and 8-Year-Old Son Missing, Van Abandoned (PICTURES)

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by idiotforreading March 22, 2010 10:01 AM EDT: They probably got stuck in the mud, figured they would wait until daylight, then she drank some wine, they fell asleep on the beach and the tide came in and washed them and their stuff out into the current. Tragic.; Reply to this comment


by pak31 March 17, 2010 9:28 AM EDT: Now that a little more info has surfaced regarding Shantina, i.e. alcoholism, the fact that she just happened to relapse, and other personal issues, it helps shed some light on what may have happened. It could very well have nothing to do with her disappearance but at least it goes from no clue no nothing at all to a possible reason. I am sure more will come out. I feel that maybe her odd actions, forgetting to take her food order, stumbling in the parking lot, acting strangely around the couple that let her in their home, losing her sense of direction and landing in a lake sounds like it could possibly be someone under the influence. But that is just a theory. The only thing is, where did they go after they exited the car?? They can't be that far, unless someone drove them away. Still very odd.; Reply to this comment