Smith, who lived alone at her Wisconsin home, was known to be independent but had some mental health concerns. Her family worried she wasn’t well enough to drive herself. She didn’t have a valid driver’s license but drove anyway. Because she usually turned off the ringer on her Wisconsin phone, her family didn’t realize she was missing for three days. They only noticed she was gone when they arrived for the Fourth of July.

A possible sighting occurred on July 2nd at a Radio Shack in Spooner, Wisconsin – someone who looked like Smith was seen there. However, this wasn’t confirmed. Things got even stranger when a note appeared at a Minnesota Wal-Mart, claiming Smith was safe but being cared for by someone who didn’t know she was missing. Police couldn’t trace the note-leaver.

Smith usually avoided freeways, preferring smaller roads. Her exact route is unknown, but she might have gone through Cambridge, Minnesota, and Siren and Spooner, Wisconsin. Her son said she seemed fine when she left, but some family members think she might have gotten lost and had an accident. The area she usually drove through has lots of forests, lakes, and swamps, and there was a road closure in effect at the time.

Smith was a shy but devoted mother and grandmother with a large family. Her disappearance is unusual for her, and while her children suspect foul play, there’s no real evidence. The case remains unsolved.