Above: Nicholas Smith in 1991 (left) and an age-progressed image to 23, circa 2003 (right)


Above: Edyth Warner in 1991

Nicholas Vincent Smith and Edyth Ann Warner

Last seen in Las Cruces, New Mexico on February 23, 1991

Vital statistics: Nicholas is a white male. He was born on July 11, 1979. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Was twelve at the time. Edyth is a white female. She was born on December 19, 1955. Brown hair, blue eyes. She wears glasses. Was thirty-five at the time.

NCIC number: M-478177192 (Nicholas) and M-478172993 (Edyth)

Circumstances: The two were last seen at student housing in Las Cruces. They left New Mexico State University at the time. Seven days later Edyth's husband filed a missing persons' report. Edyth left behind her three year old son Andrew. (Nicholas is her child from a previous marriage.) Classified as Endangered Missing.

Theories: From looking at the facts it is apparent that Nicholas and Edyth were missing voluntarily, at least at first. Edyth apparently intended to leave her husband and take Nicholas with her. They took personal belongings and money. Where does a person go, if they have to get away fast, and have cash and gold and silver on them? Las Cruces is only about fifty miles from the Mexican border. It seems natural that Edyth and Nicholas would go there. It's easy to cross the border, and they could lay low for awhile and live cheaply without having any trouble from Edyth's husband. Many Americans who want to avoid scrutiny for one reason or another end up in Mexico. This would also explain why there has been no activity on Edyth's Social Security number since her disappearance in 1991. She would have no use for the number in a foreign country. However, it seems unlikely that Edyth and Nicholas intended to be gone this long. Edyth never saw her other son again, and Nicholas never saw his biological father again. Women leave their husbands every day, but very few of them have no contact with their loved ones for over ten years afterwards. The two likeliest scenarios then, are these: Edyth and Nicholas were running from something a lot more serious than is apparent, serious enough to cause her to jettison her other child, most of her possessions, and all of her family and friends. They are still in hiding in Mexico, possibly in one of the communities of Americans that have sprung up in that country. They may be in fear of their lives if they return to the States and to whatever dove them south. Or, more probable in my opinion: Edyth and Nicholas went to Mexico intending only to stay a few weeks at the most, then return and settle things back at home. But the border area is rife with crime and would be particularly dangerous for a young, white woman all alone with her child and $11,000. Nicholas and Edyth would be prime targets for a violent robbery. Since they weren't reported missing for a week, the criminal(s) would have ample time to get away and cover their tracks. In which case Edyth and Nicholas may be out in the desert, still undiscovered. Either way, the answer to their disappearances probably lies south of the border.

If you have any information as to Nicholas' or Edyth's whereabouts, please e-mail For the Lost at this address. Or you may contact the New Mexico State University Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 505-646-3311 . All tips sent by e-mail will be kept confidential.


Information used to compile this case file comes from the following resources:
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
The Charley Project
The Doe Network

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