Smith was last seen in Duncan, Oklahoma sometime in 1985. He had moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma to work in the oil industry there. Around the time of his disappearance, Smith called his mother in Tennessee and said someone was after him and he needed her to wire him some money for a bus ticket home. He never arrived home and has never been heard from again.

Smith's white 1965 Ford Galaxy was seen being driven by a woman several days after his disappearance. Its license plate had been exchanged for another one. The vehicle was impounded by police. The woman who was driving it said Smith had bought it from her but never finished paying for it, and after his disappearance she decided to take it back. The vehicle wasn't searched until months after Smith's disappearance.

Authorities believe Smith met with foul play and drugs were involved. His case is considered an unsolved homicide.