Justin, also known by the nicknames Baker and Bubba, was last seen at the Old Town Bar in Fort Smith around 2:30 AM on January 24, 2025. He had gotten a ride home with a woman and a man. During the drive, the vehicle crashed near Paw Paw Cemetery in Muldrow and ended up in the Arkansas River. The other two passengers managed to swim to shore but lost track of Justin.

At the time of his disappearance, Justin was wearing a blue plaid long-sleeve shirt with pearl buttons. He has several tattoos, including his mother's name, "Kelly," on his upper right arm, an angry sun with orange and blue flames on his right forearm, an iron cross on his right wrist, "James Frog Smith" on his back, and a prayer on his right calf.