FL FL - Joshua Smith, 23, Ponte Vedra, 4 Nov 2000

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MagnoliaMountain

MagnoliaMountain

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http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/smith_joshua.html

http://www.nampn.org/cases/smith_joshua_bryan.html

http://www.411gina.org/joshuabryansmith.htm

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/3244

Name: Joshua Bryan Smith
Classification: Endangered Missing Adult
Alias / Nickname: Josh
Date of Birth: 1977-11-04
Date Missing: 2000-11-04
From City/State: Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Age at Time of Disappearance: 23
Gender: Male
Race: White
Height: 70 inches
Weight: 150 pounds
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown

Circumstances of Disappearance
Unknown. Joshua left work early that day and parked his vehicle on Ponte Vedra Blvd. in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. His vehicle was later located and his shoes were found on the beach. Although there have been extensive searches conducted by law enforcement, his whereabouts remain unknown.

If you believe you have any information please contact
St. John's Sheriff's Office at (904) 810-6644
 
joshua-smith.1.jpg


Josh disappeared on the night of his 23rd birthday, almost 13 years ago.

Sadly, to me it sounds like a suicide...
 
What a kind smile this young man has. Such a tragedy for his family.

I located the following article from 2002 regarding his disappearance:

http://staugustine.com/stories/072202/com_854959.shtml

A few highlights:

-- Joshua was an avid soccer player, pursuing a degree in coaching at college
-- Was named "funniest senior" at his high school
-- Spent his birthday with his father and his brother, with whom he was very close
-- Further information on the circumstances surrounding of his disappearance:

Approximately six months after leaving Flagler College, Joshua Smith disappeared. He was last seen on Nov. 4, 2000, the day he turned 23 years old.Joshua spent his birthday in close companionship with his dad, Ed, working out together at the Ponte Vedra Lodge and Club in the morning and going to a movie and dinner at Tinsel Town on the Southside in late afternoon. The last person in the family to see Joshua was his younger brother, Eric, who stopped by Lulu's Restaurant on Roscoe Road where Joshua was working that night.

At 5 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2000, Ed Smith found Joshua's 1994 Ford Ranger Truck parked in front of the Lodge. Joshua's Tommy Hilfiger tennis shoes were found in the sand about 20 feet behind the Lodge. Dogs from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office tracked him about a half-mile south on the beach and then lost his scent. "The obvious conclusion is that he drowned," says Vicki, "but the authorities told us that some evidence would have washed ashore, even if sharks got him." The distraught mother spent every night walking the beach until dawn for two weeks following Joshua's disappearance.
 
The fact that he was on antidepressants indicates he must have had some mental health problems. It's not unusual for people to enjoy a great (birth)day with family and then decide to pass out of this life.

Since there's no mention of Joshua's mental health in that article and his Mom states she knows he wouldn't have left them intentionally since the family was so close, it makes me think his family might have denied his mental struggles.

Some bodies have never been found, even though they must have washed ashore etc.
 
still missing: http://staugustine.com/slideshow/featured/2015-12-06/missing-persons#slide-6

Reported missing: 11/04/00 Joshua left work early and parked his vehicle near the beach near the 300 block of Roscoe Blvd. N. His shoes were located at the beach. Though there have been extensive searches conducted by law enforcement, Joshua’s whereabouts remain unknown. GENDER: Male RACE: White DOB: 11/04/77 HEIGHT: 5’ 10” WEIGHT: 150 HAIR: Black, medium-length, very curly EYES: Brown CLOTHING DESCRIPTION: Brown baggy pants / Brown or dark colored T-shirt / White tennis shoes

http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2015-12-05/missing-not-forgotten#.VmcWr9IrLAU

jsmith01.jpg
 
So he had a night shift and left work early, potentially either to go for a night swim or to end his life?

I'm just trying to understand the timeline, especially as most of the links given above are no longer active. At first I thought him leaving work "early that day" was during the daylight hours.

It would be interesting to know if he was born at night. Since it was his birthday, ending his life around his birth hour may have sadly given him a sense of completion.
 
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