Male Clarence Smith, Sr., a 50-year-old Black / African American man, vanished from Ferriday, Louisiana, on May 7, 1978. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being between 6 feet and 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing between 100 and 200 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. Known to some by the nickname 'Buddy,' his sudden disappearance left his family with unanswered questions that have endured for decades.
The circumstances surrounding his last known moments are harrowing; he reportedly told someone that the police were chasing him before he ran into the woods. He was never seen or heard from again, and the specific details of this alleged pursuit remain unclear. His case is a haunting example of a person who seemingly vanished without a trace, leaving a void in the lives of his loved ones.
The investigation into Clarence Smith, Sr.'s disappearance has spanned many years and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New Orleans Field Office. Over the years, DNA samples have been collected from his children, a son and a daughter, and entered into national databases with the hope of one day finding a match. These technological advancements offer a glimmer of hope that even after so much time has passed, answers might still be found. The case has also been handled by the LSU FACES Laboratory, which assists with unidentified and missing person cases in Louisiana. Despite these efforts, little public information has been released regarding any potential leads or suspects in his case.
The narrative of Clarence Smith, Sr.'s disappearance is one of abrupt and distressing uncertainty. A man, allegedly in fear for his safety, runs into the woods and is never seen again. This single, alarming detail is the pivot upon which his entire missing person case turns. The lack of any subsequent evidence—no body, no clothing, no witnesses to his ultimate fate—has left his case cold. For his family and community, the lack of resolution is a persistent source of pain. The official record is sparse, offering only the most basic facts of who he was and the terrifying final moments before he disappeared. The overview of the case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance, with the central mystery being what happened in those woods after he fled and why he believed he was being chased by the police.Last Seen: May 7, 1978
