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Rhonda Smith Missing Person Case

Last seen in Atlanta, Georgia on Feb 27, 1984

Victim Details

Feb 15, 2018

Jan 25, 2024

Rhonda

Smith

63

21

72 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Feb 27, 1984

Atlanta

Georgia

Fulton County

446

Atlanta Police Department

Atlanta

Georgia

Fulton County

30303

Joseph Golphin

Detective

226 Peachtree Street, SW, Georgia

4045464235

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.atlantapd.org/about-apd/phone-directory

42833587

Atlanta Police Department

10639

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP42235) and 9 other sources
In the winter of 1984, Rhonda Ilean Smith was a 21-year-old woman standing on the precipice of a new chapter in her life. A tall woman at six feet, she was remembered by her family for her artistic talents in writing and drawing. After a brief stint in the U.S. Army, which ended with an honorable discharge due to an injury, she returned to her home in Georgia. At the time of her disappearance, she was engaged to be married to her fiancé, Tom Shoemaker, and was filled with excitement about starting her own dog grooming and breeding business, a venture that reflected her deep love for animals. She had already taken the tangible step of ordering business cards for her new enterprise. Unbeknownst to her family, who believed she was working as a bartender, Rhonda had been employed as an exotic dancer, though she had recently quit this job to focus on her future plans. On the morning of February 27, 1984, she left her residence in Coweta County, driving a borrowed blue 1981 Chevrolet pickup truck. She was reportedly heading to Atlanta to meet a friend for a shopping trip at Lenox Square mall, a popular and bustling shopping center.

Concern began to mount when Rhonda did not return home that evening. Her fiancé grew worried and started making calls, first to her mother around 7:30 p.m., and then to other family members. The search for answers led to a troubling discovery in the early hours of February 28. The blue Chevy truck Rhonda had been driving was found by mall security in a parking deck at Lenox Square. The vehicle was locked, the windows were rolled up, and the engine was cold. Inside, on the console, were a wine glass and a beer can, but the keys were missing. Critically, there were no signs of a struggle or any clear indication of what might have happened to Rhonda. She was last seen wearing a distinctive camel-colored rabbit fur coat, a white or silver blouse, and white shoes. She also wore a gold necklace and had two piercings in each ear. Her family, upon being notified, immediately began their own desperate search, printing and distributing missing person flyers at malls across the Atlanta area, praying for any information that would lead them to Rhonda.

Decades have passed since Rhonda Smith vanished, and her case has grown cold, leaving her loved ones with a profound and unending sense of loss. The investigation has been hampered by a lack of evidence and conflicting information. For instance, the friend Rhonda was supposed to meet reportedly told authorities she had no plans to go shopping with Rhonda that day. Despite the efforts of the Atlanta Police Department and the Coweta County Sheriff's Office, no solid leads have ever emerged to explain her disappearance. Her family has always held the conviction that she would not have run away and would have contacted them if she were able. The case is a haunting puzzle; a young woman on the verge of starting a new life drives to a shopping mall and disappears without a trace, leaving behind only a locked vehicle and questions that have echoed through the years. Her disappearance remains an open wound for her family, a story without an ending, and a somber mystery that endures.
Last Seen: Feb 27, 1984

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • GONE COLD | The case of the missing dancer - 11Alive.com
  • Rhonda Ilean Smith - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP42235 | NamUs
  • 4550DFGA - Rhonda Ilean Smith - Doe Network
  • Family of Rhonda Smith still seeking answers | Local News
  • Rhonda Smith | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Justice For Rhonda Smith | Tom shoemaker supposedly reported ...
  • S2 Episode 1: Rhonda Smith - Southern Gone | Podcast on Spotify
  • Tom shoemaker supposedly reported Rhonda Smith missing in two ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Union City, Georgia - unidentified case UP708
    Jane Doe — Union City, Georgia
    UP708 • Found Mar 24, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'8" vs 6'0"
    Weight 100%140 lb vs 140 lb

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    I was thinking about Rhonda Ilean Smith’s case today and can't stop wondering about the wine glass... ...Read More
    11/16/2024
    Has anyone dug into the timeline surrounding when the truck was last seen in the parking garage at... ...Read More
    11/29/2023
    Has anyone else been following the Rhonda Ilean Smith case and thought about the wine glass and beer... ...Read More
    11/11/2023

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