What Happened To Missing Tera Smith Of Redding CA? Tera Smith’s Disappearance Case is trending, thanks to NBC Dateline’s coverage. Here’s everything you need to know about Tera’s 1998 disappearance, which remains unsolved to this day.
Tera Smith was only 16 years old when she was last seen leaving her family’s home in 1998.
She never returned home after that, and there has been no sign of her reappearance. Her disappearance is one of America’s coldest cases.
The Smith family has left their hopes of finding Tera alive but is still vouching for justice through NBC’s Dateline.
What Happened To Missing Tera Smith Of Redding CA?
Tera Smith went missing on the evening of August 22, 1998, from Redding, CA, after which any deets on her well-being has not reached the concerned authority.
She was dressed for a jog on Old Oregon Trail and had headed out sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The young Tera had stepped out despite being warned not to do so by her younger sister Kyra.
Learn more about Tera Smith’s disappearance #Dateline https://t.co/Q9OULF5N4u pic.twitter.com/q4PpGo8uM6
— Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) April 23, 2022
The Smith Siblings were forbidden to step out of the house at night; meanwhile, Tera had to cover her job at her family-owned fun center at 7 p.m.
When Tera did not return home after 9 p.m, she was reported to be missing by her family. Since then, Tera’s disappearance has hooked the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and the Smith family.
Tera Smith Disappearance Turned Murder Story In Cold Case Episode
Tera Smith’s disappearance is speculated to be a murder case that later turned into a cold case.
Although not charged, Tera’s family suspects Troy Zink to be the perpetrator behind Tera’s tragedic fate. Zink was Tera’s Taekwondo instructor and the last person to see her.
Zink was never branded as a suspect in the case, but he was interrogated and investigated by the police. Zink claimed that Tera had called him the night she went missing, and they met up near her home around 6:30 p.m.
He further stated that Tear had asked him for money, but he refused. Tera asked him to drop her off at the intersection of Old Alturas Road and Old Oregon Trail.
16-year-old Tera Smith disappeared on August 22, 1998, from Redding, California. Her family is still hanging on to hope that her case will one day be solved. Can you help find Tera? #Dateline https://t.co/Q9OULF5N4u pic.twitter.com/dvQLp64Wi2
— Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) April 17, 2022
After that, Zink said he drove to Hang Glider Hill to “pray” until he returned home. Zink is a convicted spousal rapist and is also alleged to have been involved in a physical relationship with Tera.
The Smith family believes that Tera had gone out to end things with Zink that night, only not to return home. The Smith family has firmly held onto their beliefs and statements though the case never reached the court.
Who Killed Tera Smith?
Tera Smith is yet to be proved to have been killed after her disappearance. Although Zink was an initial person of interest in the case, he was never charged and brought into special attention.
Thus, it is not known yet who killed Tera. The police are still looking for Tera and have asked people to inform Shasta County if any updates are found.
Tera Smith’s Parents And Family
Marilyn Smith and Terry Smith are the parents of the missing girl Tera Smith.
Tera Lynn Smith, who has an angelic face, still terrorizes the inhabitants of North State. The former homecoming queen of Central Valley High School vanished nearly 24 years ago.
Smith, who was 16 when she disappeared on August 22, 1998, may be dead, but her memory lives on. Nevertheless, with each year that goes by, my recollection of her gets a little bit weaker.
Tera Smith’s Father, Terry, stated in 2008 that no official memorial services were held in her honor. He was 48 years old and Shasta Lake’s Oasis Fun Center proprietor.
According to him, the family will privately commemorate her. Smith stated the agony of his lovely daughter’s absence is still with him even though he realized she was dead long ago. But with time, it has grown drab.
Tera Smith Sister Kyra Smith
Kyra and her other siblings did not try to find their sister. She told Dateline, “I genuinely think my parents attempted to protect us from that.
Kyra left Redding as an adult, got married, and is now a mother of her kids.
Kyra added, “I still — I still very much try to focus on her life and all the wonderful. I’m older, and I’m more conscious of things. “Because I don’t want to concentrate on the unpleasant details of her disappearance,” she replied.
Kyra then decided to concentrate on the positive. She contacted Tera’s family members and assembled a binder with tributes to her sister.
Terry recalled his daughter and stated, “We have a full three-ring binder of these stories that we wouldn’t have – that we wouldn’t even be aware of, had she not gone away.” And they present a picture of a 16-year-old girl who is mature, intelligent, and kind beyond her years.
Even if Tera’s life, not her absence, is the primary concern, Kyra continued, “We still want justice.” “We don’t want someone capable of doing this to be going about their daily life.”
