On the evening of March 13, 2010, 29-year-old Shantina Smiley and her 8-year-old son, Azriel Carver, were on a road trip from their home in Silverdale, Washington, to visit relatives in Castle Rock. The journey took a distressing turn when Shantina became lost in the Olympia area. Her erratic path that night was traced through various sightings. She was seen at a market, and later at a diner where she reportedly seemed disoriented.
Around 10:00 p.m., she stopped at a private residence to ask for directions and use the phone, which was the last time she and her son were seen. The family they were going to visit never saw them arrive.
The day after their disappearance, the minivan Shantina was driving was discovered partially submerged in the Puget Sound at a remote beach north of Olympia. The doors of the vehicle were open, and inside were her wallet, identification, and credit cards, but her purse was missing. In the following days, some of their belongings, including an inhaler used by her son, washed ashore. Tragically, on March 18, Azriel's body was found on a beach on Fox Island, about sixteen nautical miles from where the van was located. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. Shantina, however, remained missing.
Shantina was described by loved ones as a devoted mother who was looking forward to a new chapter in her life with her fiancé. She had recently graduated from Olympic College and was planning to start a career in medical billing. However, she had also faced personal challenges, including a history of alcohol abuse for which she had sought treatment. While her family believed she was stable and happy at the time of her disappearance, it was later revealed she may have had a recent relapse. Investigators have considered various scenarios but have largely worked under the assumption that Shantina also drowned. Despite searches by boat, aircraft, and with the use of search dogs, no trace of her has ever been found, leaving her case an unsolved and sorrowful mystery.Last Seen: Mar 13, 2010
