Samantha Renee Smith: Intimate Partner Homicide?

The case of Samantha Renee Smith is disturbing on so many levels. I had hoped that law enforcement from Laurens County, South Carolina would have attended the CUE conference for missing persons in Wilmington, North Carolina this past weekend. To gain insight and techniques regarding these types of cases where it involves the "last person" to have seem them.

In my opinion, it would have gained new insight into this case. This case, is less about a "sudden disappearance", and more about an intimate partner homicide case. The last person to have contact with Samantha, was her then current boyfriend. They argued that day after going to church service. He claims they parted and went their separate ways that day. There was also a 25 year age difference between the couple.

Was she ending the relationship?

Did she meet someone new and strike up a friendship?

Has the vehicle registration number from her car ever been entered into a national data base to check if it had been scrapped or sold? Has the title record ever been checked on the car to see if it was sold?

Are law enforcement certain about the time-line or could it actually be the week before?

School records: when was the last date Samantha attended class at Piedmont Tech?

The couple lived together and yet, she took nothing with her. If she were just leaving, personal items, you know clothes, bra, under garments, shoes, high school and family photo's would never be left behind.

Yes, she suffered from depression, but to me it strikes a convenient red flag for one sorry excuse of bullshit. She was attending school and planning out her future, one that no longer included a controlling relationship. A letter a few years after she vanished a letter was found hidden in a personal item and according to accounts it holds some importance. He the boyfriend as in 99.9% of intimate partner violence and homicide cases and also the "person of interest" has no reason to report or panic that something has happened. They simply go on with the routine in their lives in hopes no one will continue to suspect them, that is until now. Samantha did not voluntarily walk into any woods, not on her own anyway.

Time and evidence have been lost. But it is not too late, as in so many that are solved by law enforcement, with a fresh pair of eyes to work Samantha's case.

To the person whom decided to have the last act of control in her life, I am asking you, sir, to consider calling and making an anonymous tip with where Samantha can be found. Her mother's health is declining and all she wants to do is bring her daughter home. I believe you have a conscious and that is why I am making this plea to you.

From the Help Find The Missing Site:

Quoted :

Well, it’s here. November 5, 2009. Three years ago Samantha Renee Smith vanished! I can’t tell there is much difference in every day life… Few people in our area recognize her name. You never see her face on missing posters. The ones I put up are always gone within a day or two. You don’t hear Nancy Grace or any of the others for that matter, even mention her name. And believe me I have contacted many people in the media. Reminders of today and I hope, maybe one will run a story about her.

I wonder if the new police chief, or Safety Director, has ever heard her name mentioned.

You don’t see her face flashing on every other myspace you look at. Almost no one would recognize her face if it scrolled across the top of this site.

But, Someone knows. And one day we will all know.

God bless you Samantha.

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: November 5, 2006 from Clinton, South Carolina
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date of Birth: July 13, 1984
Age: 22 years old
Height and Weight: 5’3 – 5’4, 110 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Red hair, green eyes. Smith’s hair is naturally blonde, but it was dyed red at the time of her disappearance.
Medical Conditions: Smith has a history of depression and may be suicidal. She has attempted suicide multiple times in the past. In addition, Smith suffers from asthma. She was taking medication for both her conditions at the time of her disappearance and may be in need of medical attention.

Details of Disappearance Smith was last seen in Clinton, South Carolina on November 5, 2006. At the time, she was living with her boyfriend in a house in the 100 block of Leila Street. Her boyfriend stated they got into an argument about religion and Smith walked into a wooded area behind her home and never returned. Smith has never been heard from again. She left all her personal belongings behind, except her purse. There is no evidence of foul play in Smith’s case, and her boyfriend has been ruled out as a suspect but not as a person of interest in her disappearance, but it is unclear what happened to her. Smith is described as an intelligent young woman. She enjoyed photography, hiking and horseback riding at the time of her disappearance. She was a student at Piedmont Tech and made good grades; she wanted to transfer to Lander University and become an art teacher. She has dropped out of sight before, but never for this long, and her family believes she may have come to harm. Her case remains unsolved.

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Clinton Department of Public Safety
864-833-7512

I cannot stress enough, if you are in a relationship that has a history of violence, simply mustering up the courage to confront the person and say it is over, without the proper tools, can cost you, your

life!

One of the major reasons women stay in abusive relationships is fear. They are afraid of what will happen to them and their children if they leave. Sadly, their fears are often justified; FACT a woman is at the greatest risk for injury when she announces her plans or leaves an abusive relationship

The book "Time's Up A Guide on How To Survive and Abusive and Stalking Relationship"is the prescription, if you will, that every person must obtain before they announce they are leaving. Below is an example from Chapter 4, one of many unique tools provided in the book. It is available on Amazon.com, or you can purchase via e-book or on a cd. If you have questions, the email address is: timesupforjustice@gmail.com

Evidentiary Abuse Affidavit by Susan Murphy Milano from the Book "Time's Up" from Courage Network on Vimeo.

Susan Murphy Milano is with the Institute for Relational Harm Reduction and Public Pathology Education. She is an expert on intimate partner violence and homicide crimes. For more information visit http://www.saferelationshipsmagazine.com/ She is also in partnership with Pamela Chapman and iAscend Programs.http://pamelachapmanl.biz

Susan is the author of "Time's Up A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships," available for purchase at the Institute, Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" on Here Women Talkhttp://www.herewomentalk.com/ and is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated The Roth Show with Dr Laurie Roth. Susan is a survivor- the daughter of a police officer family intimate partner homicide by her father who murdered her mother before committing suicide.