What Happened With Tera Smith From Redding CA? Tera Smith’s disappearance is a hot topic right now, thanks to NBC Dateline’s coverage. Here’s everything you need to know about Tera’s unsolved disappearance from 1998.
Tera Smith was 16 years old when she vanished from her family’s house in 1998.
She never returned home after that, and there has been no hint of her reappearance. Her disappearance is one of the most unsolved cases in the United States.
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.
