By Chuck Hustmyre
April 9, 2007
BOSSIER CITY, La. (Crime Library) — Mary Byrne Smith, known as Beth to her friends, has been missing for more than two weeks. A devout Christian, according to family and friends, Beth missed Easter with her husband — a Baptist preacher — and two children, ages 7 and 10.
Since she was last seen on Saturday, March 24, at a religious conference for women at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, there has been no activity on her cell phone or her credit cards, police say.
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| Mary Byrne Smith |
Beth, 30, reportedly had only $40 in cash on her at the time she disappeared and left her overnight bag in the car of the female friend with whom she attended the conference.
An extensive search turned up no sign of her.
Until just a few days ago, Beth's family was strangely quiet about her disappearance.
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| Police Chief Mike Halphen |
Last week, Bossier City Police Chief Mike Halphen suggested at a press conference that the crushing weight of personal problems may have caused Beth to vanish voluntarily.
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| Bossier police station |
"We just want to know if she's OK," Halphen said. "She can contact us or a member of her family. She won't get in trouble because she decided to leave — if that's the case."
Since Beth disappeared more than two weeks ago, information has trickled into media outlets that paints a picture of a troubled woman who perhaps had more problems than she felt she could handle.
For the last 10 years, Beth has been the wife of the Rev. Jason Lee Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Summerdale, Ala.
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Mary Byrne Smith: Still Missing After More Than A Week
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