In the days leading up to his disappearance, 76-year-old Lewis James Smith experienced a series of unfortunate falls, each compounding the concern for his well-being. Earlier in the week of January 14, 2016, Mr. Smith, a retired tree surgeon known by the nickname 'Treeman,' suffered a fall where he hit his head and was knocked unconscious. He received treatment at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and was subsequently discharged the same night. The day before he went missing, he fell again, striking the same area of his head and losing consciousness for a second time. This prompted another visit to the hospital where he was kept overnight for observation before being released the following day. It was after this second hospital stay that the circumstances surrounding his whereabouts become unclear.
A private transportation service was tasked with taking Mr. Smith home from the hospital. However, instead of being dropped off directly at his residence on Lee Street, the driver, who knew Mr. Smith, reported that he was left at the corner of Lee and Odom Streets at Mr. Smith's request, as he indicated he wanted to go somewhere else first. Neighbors later reported seeing him walking, but he never made it to his house. Compounding the worry was the fact that he left behind his glasses and his walking cane, items he relied upon. His family, who were not contacted by the hospital about his discharge, did not realize he was missing until January 26th.
The family holds deep concerns that the repeated head injuries may have left him confused or disoriented, contributing to his disappearance. It was highly uncharacteristic of Mr. Smith to leave without informing anyone of his plans. Described as a Black male with graying black hair, brown eyes, and a distinctive birthmark on his left cheek, he was between 5'2' and 5'5' tall and weighed between 165 and 175 pounds at the time he went missing. Despite searches of the area around Lee Street and Odom Avenue, no clues to his whereabouts have been found. The Albany Police Department investigated his disappearance, but without further information or leads from the public, the case has reached a standstill, leaving his loved ones without answers.
Last Seen: Jan 14, 2016
