Birthdate January 6, 1982
Missing: August 22, 1998
Age Now: 21 Sex: Female
Race: White Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Hazel Height: 5'7" (170 cm) Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)
Missing From: REDDING , California, United States

TERA SMITH

Tera was last seen leaving her residence to go jogging between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. She was wearing a sports top, shorts, and tennis shoes. She may have been seen with a white male companion, driving a 1976 dark blue Ford full size fleetside pick-up truck with mag wheels and a yellow tailgate.

*There is an age progressed photo of Tera, search her name at: www.missingkids.com

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST)

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Shasta County Sheriff's Office (California) 1-530-245-6025

That pickup truck mentioned in the flyer belonged to Troy Zink. He says he gave her a ride that day, but dropped her off to go jogging (she was dressed in jogging clothes). Apparently, he'd had the truck detailed before police had a chance to look at it.

They'd been romantically involved in the months leading up to her disappearance, but had broken it off a while before she went missing. He was married and she was a teenager from a Mormon home. She wrote some stuff in her diary that was left in her room. Her parents found a letter that she wrote to Troy basically breaking off the relationship and speaking of her guilt that he was married, etc.

Zink had some previous sexual assault charges against him from some other woman. Can't remember if he was found guilty or not, but he was found guilty of a weapons violation and served time for that after Tera's disappearance. He owned a karate studio at the time of her disappearance and his father is an influential man in Redding.

Anyway, maybe some other weirdo picked her up, but it certainly sounds fishy to me.

Tera's been gone five years this month.

... said he went up to a mountain nearby, said he 'meditated' and as I recall he spent quite lengthy time 'meditating'. The meditation area is/was private property, owned by the city or county (don't recall which ), it had a gate across the entrance and was supposed to be a lock on the gate. *( he had to hike up ) His 'story' never made sense, IMHO...but there was no proof, no witness.

It is today that lovely Tera Smith has been missing FIVE years. What a tragedy for her family. Below is the link to an article in which her father says they've come to terms with the fact that she won't be coming home. As a parent myself, I can't imagine their heartache.

http://www.redding.com/top_stories/local/20030822toplo050.shtml

This family is so courageous- their story made me cry, but then again ALL of these stories make me cry.

At this time of year, I always think more and more about missing kids. These children should be in class with their friends, but instead they are missing, and their families are left behind in grief and turmoil.

When I look at what these families are going thru, my heart breaks for them. I realize that all my problems are so petty and insignificant when compared to theirs. I feel so blessed to be able to tuck my three into bed at night.

I want these families to get their children back, or to at the very least have some closure.....

Ladybug, is there a National Missing Kids' day? If there is, I'm unaware of it. You know, we have a "day" for everything it seems....

TERA
OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN
COME HOME...

DragonFly, there is a National Missing Children's Day held each year. John Walsh (AMW) amongst other dignitaries is most usually present at the ceremony. Invited to the last ceremony held was Charles Clickman, Houston, TX, from Child Watch of North America. ( http://www.childwatch.org ). His wife 'Ourputer' posts information in this forum whenever she has free time.

Please take a flower from this bocquet, more hugs to your children and give them hugs from LadyBug.

You may also wish to visit the National Missing Exploited Children web page to learn more or search through the database for children from your state. http://www.missingkids.com. I also highly recommend Child Watch of North America.