The search for Joshlin Smith entered its fourth day on Friday, and a discovery made in the past 24 hours has heightened concerns about the six-year-old’s well-being.
Joshlin Smith disappearance takes a turn after discovery of bloody ditch
The Saldanha Bay community has been united in the search for the missing girl, since her mother, Kelly Smith, alerted authorities about her disappearance on Monday, 19 February 2024.
Several highly skilled units from SAPS’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), visible policing members, Disaster Management personnel, and numerous community volunteers, have spent exhaustive hours combing through the West Coast settlement, looking for clues about what happened to the six-year-old.
However, the search for Joshlin Smith took a distressing turn on the third day when a bloody ditch was discovered behind the structure where she lives.
This alarming find led searchers to an empty structure nearby, where a fresh grave had been dug. Police efforts intensified as they began excavating the grave at 13:00 on Thursday, looking for any clues that might reveal what happened to Joshlin.
At this time, however, developments on the contents police discovered had not been canvassed on Friday morning, when this article was published.
Joshlin was last seen on Monday, 19 February 2024. On that day, she was left at home under the care of her mother’s boyfriend, as she was not feeling well.
Her mother, upon returning from work later that afternoon, discovered Joshlin was not at home. Despite inquiries, Joshlin’s whereabouts remained a mystery.
The last person reported to have seen Joshlin alive was her mother’s boyfriend. He alleged that he saw her playing outside at around 15:00 on Monday.
This statement became a critical piece of the puzzle in piecing together the timeline of Joshlin’s disappearance.
What to do if you have information on Joshlin Smith’s whereabouts
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Joshlin Smith’s disappearance to come forward. Information can be relayed to the investigating officer, through Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or reported anonymously via the MYSAPS mobile app.
Joshlin Smith, a young resident of Saldanha Bay, remains missing, and efforts to locate her continue with the support of the local community and law enforcement.