Crime Solvers Central
CSC
263 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Neely Smith death by force case profile photo

Neely Smith

Case from Mecklenburg County, NC dated Apr 11, 1981

Victim Details

Neely Smith

December 5, 2022

Female

Caucasian / White

Mecklenburg County

NC

1981-04-11

1981-02-18

1975-12-30

5

Neely

Smith

No

07/09/2026


Area Body Found:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Do you know who abducted and murdered 5 year old Neely Shane Smith in 1981?
On February 18, 1981, 5-year-old Neely Shane Smith was abducted while playing near her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Witnesses reported seeing a man with gray hair forcing her into his van. After an extensive search, Neely's remains were discovered nearly two months later, on April 11, 1981, in a remote area near the Mecklenburg-Union County line. Neely had been raped and strangled, a crime that devastated the local community.

Fred Coffey, who was convicted of another child murder ...
MEMBER ACCESS

Continue reading the complete case summary

Unlock the full case narrative for Neely Smith, all available source links, additional videos, and member discussions.

Unlock Full Case Access — $3.97/month
Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in

Links to Additional Sources (3)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Investigators take new look at 1981 murder of 5-year-old Charlotte girl
  • Child killer's DNA could help solve 1981 cold case - Charlotte - WBTV
    • MEMBER ACCESS

    Unlock 1 additional source

    View the complete collection of available reporting and reference links for this case.

    View All Case Sources — $3.97/month
    Cancel anytime.
    Already a member? Log in

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone,
    I stumbled upon some old articles and got really invested in Neely Shane Smith's ca... ...Read More
    06/20/2024
    Has anyone else been following Neely Shane Smith's case? I've been diving deep into this one lately ... ...Read More
    04/03/2023
    MEMBER ACCESS

    Join the discussion for Neely Smith

    Read full forum posts and contribute to this case discussion.

    Unlock forum access — $3.97/month
    Already a member? Log in

    Other Cases from North-carolina

    Tracy L O’Carroll death by force case in Chocowinity, NC

    Tracy L O’Carroll

    Death: Aug 24, 2021
    Tracy L. O’Carroll, a 49-year-old woman from Chocowinity, NC, tragically lost her life on August 2 ...Read More
    Janie Thompson death by force case in Charlotte, NC

    Janie Thompson

    Death: May 02, 1975
    On May 2, 1975, 21-year-old Janie Elizabeth Thompson and her friend Sandra Ann McAfee were found mur u ...Read More
    Melissa Rockwell Preston death by force case in Morrisville, NC

    Melissa Rockwell Preston

    Death: May 05, 2014
    Melissa Eileen Rockwell Preston, a 43-year-old Caucasian woman, tragically passed away on May 5, 201 0 ...Read More
    Ricky Phayaxay death by force case in Greensboro, NC

    Ricky Phayaxay

    Death: Sep 12, 2017
    Ricky Phayaxay, a 32-year-old man from Greensboro, NC, was tragically killed on September 12, 2017. . ...Read More
    Laci Brown death by force case in Greensboro, NC

    Laci Brown

    Death: Apr 17, 2026
    Laci Brown, a 32-year-old Black woman from Greensboro, North Carolina, died after a shooting on Frid i ...Read More
    Hailey Locklear Davis death by force case in Lumberton, NC

    Hailey Locklear Davis

    Death: Dec 22, 2020
    Hailey Jane Locklear-Davis, an 18-year-old female from Lumberton, NC, passed away on December 22, 20 2 ...Read More
    Carolyn Charlene Moore death by force case in Nebo, NC

    Carolyn Charlene Moore

    Death: Feb 29, 2020
    Carolyn Charlene Moore, a 76-year-old woman from Nebo, North Carolina, passed away on February 29, 2 ...Read More