Smith was last seen on March 23, 1993. He left his home in El Monte, California to keep an appointment with the manager at the Rosemead High School auditorium. He did disc jockey gigs for extra money, and was going to see a man about a possible deejay job at a church dance on April 24. The man was supposed to give him some money. Smith was last seen by the auditorium manager, leaving the auditorium between 9:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. that day. He has never been heard from again. His 1992 Mazda pickup truck was later found abandoned a short distance from the school.

At the time of his disappearance, Smith lived with his mother. He had taken care of her since his father's death a few years earlier. He was a student at Citrus College and was working at the Home Savings and Loan in Irwindale, California. He is described as a friendly, outgoing, responsible young man. Smith did not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol in 1993, and he was never tardy at work. He is a car enthusiast and talented at mathematics.

Smith is not believed to have left of his own accord. He left all of his personal belongings and money behind, and it is uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Police believe he was murdered, probably the same day he disappeared, and the auditorium manager is a person of interest in his disappearance. His case remains unsolved.