Anna Smith’s body has been found along with a note that revealed she intended to harm herself. The remains of Anna Marie Smith were found in a wooded area in Popular Grove Road in Boone, North Carolina. Smith a student from the Appalachian State University was missing for almost two weeks.
The body of Anna Smith has been found and she was carrying a note that might explain her death. Friends and family were hoping for another outcome.
On September 16th, a couple strolling in Popular Grove Road in Boone discovered the remains of Anna Marie Smith.
The 18-year-old vanished on September 3rd after taking the Mountaineer SafeRide, the university’s van service that is at students’ disposal late at night, according to Examiner.
Hundreds of people gathered daily to search for the North Carolina teenager. Many of them carried sunflowers – a symbolic gesture for the bright young woman who had the yellow flower tattooed on her upper body.
While the content of the note has note been revealed, a member of the Boone police department stated that the woman had plans to harm herself.
The unnamed officer said that Anna Smith asphyxiated herself, according to News Oxy:
“In fact, there are factors to indicate that Ms. Smith was intent on harming herself. I know this is difficult for family and friends to hear, but these are facts.”
Boone’s Chief of Police, Dana Crawford, released a statement regarding the note found on Anna Smith’s body:
We intend to work this case as any death investigation. At this point we do not have direct information that there is foul play. In fact, there are factors to indicate that Ms. Smith was intent on harming herself. I know this is difficult for family and friends to hear, but these are facts. This is not the time that I would have preferred to release this information.
Crawford went to share that Miss Smith was in a fragile emotional state prior to her death:
However, it has been referenced that Ms. Smith had been experiencing some emotional difficulties in prior press releases from ASU and even from the family. It is important to note that a letter was found with the body of Anna Smith. To protect the integrity of the investigation we are not prepared to discuss the content of the letter that appears to have been authored by Ms. Smith. We intend to request a forensic analysis of the letter.
An autopsy will be performed on Anna Smith’s body, while the note will go through forensic examination to be authenticated.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.
