On the anniversary of his disappearance, police are looking for help finding a Shelby County man who went missing in 2006.
Walter “Tom” Smith was set to open a restaurant in Edinburgh in September 2006, when his family reported him missing.
Shortly after he was reported missing, his car was found abandoned in Franklin.
Investigators have found that a personal check from Smith was cashed in Ohio by an acquaintance, who is a suspect in the case. Police suspect that person harmed Smith, according to a news release from Crime Stoppers.
Since then, the suspect has told police Smith died when two Florida men demanded money from him, and those details were backed up by evidence found at Smith’s Flat Rock home, the release said.
But police do not have enough evidence to charge anyone in the case, the release said.
They are asking for the public’s help in finding Smith and for any information about the case.
Smith’s family had said he was excited about opening Walter’s Family Restaurant in Edinburgh, and it was all he talked about. They also said he was a family man, who wouldn’t go as much as a week without talking to his siblings or his children.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 262-8477. Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at crimetips.org. If the information leads to an arrest, you could receive a $1,000 reward.
