ST. GEORGE, Utah, Feb. 17, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — On March 1, 2016, St. George teen Macin Smith will have been missing six months.
Smith, 17, walked away from his home Tuesday, Sept. 1 when his parents thought he was on his way to school. He left behind his cell phone, wallet and laptop. He did leave a note, which his parents discovered a week later, but its contents have never fully disclosed.
Early indications were that he might have headed to Las Vegas, but that was never confirmed. Other possible sightings have not proved credible.
His family has worked tirelessly with professional search organizations and police to bring Macin home.
On the five month anniversary of his disappearance, his family announced a new flyer would be distributed that offers a $10,000 reward for his safe return. A $1,000 reward offered for credible information was initially offered, which ballooned to $5,000 with the help of a GoFundMe page, then to $10,000 with assistance from a private donor.
Macin’s mom, Tracey Bratt-Smith, and other family members, have posted Facebook updates in tribute to him almost every day to the 14,798 members of the Help Find Macin Smith page on Facebook.
Those in the know say it’s rather like Macin just vanished, and they are flummoxed as to how that would be possible.
Speaking to Gephardt Daily at her home in St. George, Bratt-Smith said of his disappearance: “I could have never predicted it would have been six months. I didn’t think it would be a couple of days. There’s a piece of my heart out there.
“It’s ongoing. It’s a loss. My wish is that there will be answers sooner rather than later. Logically, he left a note. Logically, if he did what he said in the note, he’s not with us.
“Whatever was going on in his brain, I’m missing a piece of the puzzle. It doesn’t make sense.
“He’s loved unconditionally. Maybe he had to leave in order for that to be confirmed.”
Macin is 6-feet-4-inches and 200 pounds. He has light blue eyes, and he had short blond hair when he went missing. A new BOLO (“Be On The Lookout”) has recently been produced that shows Macin as he may look now, with facial hair and longer hair.
The Smith family moved to St. George from Canada in April 2015, and Macin had been their last child living at home.
Anyone with information on Macin should contact the St. George Police Department at 435-627-4300, or David Cummings at Red Rock Search and Rescue on 702-787-4068.
Click here to watch the first or second part of our previous exclusive interview with Macin’s parents, Tracey and Darrin, recorded in October.
How heartbreaking to have to live through this. My neighbor in 1985 lost her 30-yr-old daughter who went to a party one night and vanished. They figured out that she had been murdered and that he “boyfriend” did it, but without a body there were never any charges filed. Watching another family endure this takes me back in time, and reminds us that your burden is unique and special, and needs to be shared. God bless your family!!!
We are dealing with the loss of our 14 year son old to suicide. My heart aches alongside this family. I understand how you’re feeling. Hang on to that little hope, we will pray for you as well. I’m sorry you are forced to deal with this as it is unimaginable. Much love coming your way.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Truly it is a void that can’t be filled. I was told the bigger the heartache, the greater the love and that’s why it hurts so much. Perhaps we need to start a grief group. Hugs from St. George.
FYI posters.
Prayers aren’t helping anyone. Other than perhaps yourself, making you feel better, or making you feel like you’ve done something useful when in fact you’ve done nothing useful at all.
Wow, can I just say how much you posting that comment helped? Everyone deals with things in their own way. If praying is theirs, so be it. You can respect other beliefs besides your own- it’s not hard.
FYI poster.
This comment helped no one. Other than perhaps yourself, making you feel better or superior in some way maybe. Making you feel like you’ve done something useful when in fact you’ve done nothing useful at all. In fact you’ve just made yourself completely useless on this site because everyone deals with things in their own way. And if praying is theirs, so be it. You can respect beliefs besides your own- it’s not that hard.