Vanished in the Desert: The Unsolved Disappearance of Nicholas Smith and His Mother Edyth Warner

A Quiet Life in University Park

In early 1991, Edyth Warner, a 35-year-old art student at New Mexico State University (NMSU), lived with her 11-year-old son, Nicholas Vincent Smith, her second husband, Henry Warner, and their 3-year-old son, Andrew, in University Park—the student housing section of the campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Edyth, who had recently undergone back surgery in June 1990, was known for her dedication to metal art and jewelry-making. Despite her health challenges, she remained committed to her studies and family life.

The Day They Disappeared

On February 21, 1991, Edyth attended her art classes, leaving a piece of metal in acid, and informed her instructor she would return in a few hours. However, she never came back. Nicholas attended school that day but was absent the following day, February 22. According to Henry, on February 23, Edyth mentioned she and Nicholas would stay with a friend temporarily. After a week without contact, Henry reported their disappearance to the NMSU police on March 2, 1991.

Initial Investigations and Family Concerns

Edyth's parents, Randle and Edyth Dewees, became alarmed when they hadn't heard from their daughter. They contacted Henry, who initially claimed Edyth was out or not home. On the third call, he admitted that Edyth and Nicholas had not been home since February 23. Concerned, Randle and Nicholas's biological father, Ron Smith, traveled to Las Cruces, only to find that Nicholas had been absent from school since February 22. They also discovered that Edyth had not returned to her classes.

Unanswered Questions and Theories

Henry claimed that Edyth took approximately $1,000 in cash and $10,000 in gold and silver from their shared accounts before disappearing. A witness reported seeing Edyth loading cardboard boxes into her vehicle a week prior to her disappearance. Despite searches of local storage facilities, no trace of these boxes was found. Additionally, Nicholas had planned to visit his father in Texas during spring break but never arrived. There has been no activity on either Edyth or Nicholas's Social Security numbers since their disappearance, and no requests for Nicholas's educational records have been made. ...Read More

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