Smith was last seen on March 2, 2022, near 69th Street and Figueroa in Los Angeles, California. According to her family, she had been engaged in sex work as a means of gaining financial independence and providing for her daughter. During a visit to her family’s home in Long Beach, California, on Christmas Day 2021, she opened up about her situation. Concerned for her well-being, her family sought support from Gems Uncovered, a Long Beach nonprofit that assists individuals affected by sexual exploitation. Despite these efforts, Smith continued in sex work. In the days leading up to her disappearance, she expressed a desire to leave the industry and shared concerns that she was at risk of being harmed.