Shadows of Silence: The Unsolved Disappearance of Jasmine and Melissa Collins in Akron's Heart

A Routine Day Turns Into a Lifelong Mystery

On August 8, 1991, 17-year-old Melissa Ann Collins and her 7-month-old daughter, Jasmine Kirlissa Collins, vanished from their apartment on Westwood Avenue in Akron, Ohio. That afternoon, Melissa's mother dropped them off after a day of errands, including picking up studio photos of Jasmine and doing laundry. Later that evening, around 7:30 p.m., Melissa and Jasmine left on foot to visit a nearby grocery store just four blocks away. They never returned, and no confirmed sightings have been reported since that evening.

Uncharacteristic Silence Raises Alarms

Melissa was known to maintain daily contact with her mother, even during a previous instance when she ran away for a month while pregnant with Jasmine; she had a friend call her parents to assure them of her safety. Her sudden disappearance, without any communication, was deeply out of character. When her mother visited Melissa's apartment after the disappearance, she found no signs of a planned departure: Melissa's purse was in the bedroom, her clothes were freshly washed and folded, and there was a stock of diapers and pre-filled baby bottles for Jasmine.

The Prime Suspect: Raymond “Sweet Pea” Smith

The last person to report seeing Melissa and Jasmine was Raymond “Sweet Pea” Smith Jr., a 37-year-old man with a history of violence, drug abuse, and mental illness. Smith was staying with a woman who had sublet her apartment to Melissa. He claimed that Melissa and Jasmine left the apartment around 7:30 p.m. to go to the store, and he left shortly after. When he returned a day or two later, a witness noted that his clothing appeared to be stained with what looked like blood. Unfortunately, this observation was not reported to the police until it was too late to recover the clothing for testing.

A Troubled Past and a Mysterious Death

Smith had prior convictions for drug offenses, sexual imposition, and aggravated assault. Melissa had expressed fear of Smith to her mother, mentioning that he had made unwanted advances toward her. Six months after Melissa and Jasmine's disappearance, Smith died by suicide in the basement of his new residence on Raymond Street. He left behind a note that read only, "To whom it may concern," with the rest of the paper blank. At the time of his death, Smith was facing serious criminal charges and reportedly did not want to return to prison. ...Read More

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