Remains in Texas Identified As 16-Year-Old Girl Who's Been Missing Since 2000
Human remains found in Midland, Texas almost nine years ago have recently been identified as Sylvia Nicole Smith, a 16-year-old who was reported missing as a runaway by her mother on February 18, 2000, over 22 years ago.
The partial remains were found on August 1, 2013 by workers surveying near an oilfield well site in the south of Midland. Smith’s remains were then sent to University of North Texas Center for human identification, and over the course of seven years, researchers were unable to identify the victim.
They were able to determine the remains belonged a woman between the ages of 14-21 and was likely murdered.
It wasn’t until 2020 that the Texas Rangers and the Midland District Attorney’s Office sent advanced DNA analysis of the remains to two labs and learned the victim was of African-American descent, and were able to identify her hair and eye color.
As of recently, genetic genealogists were able to match the DNA to a distant relative and identify the remains as Sylvia Nicole Smith.
Since it was determined Smith was murdered, the Texas Rangers have opened up a homicide investigation into her death and are asking for any potential information related to her disappearance.
If you have any information or tips related to Smith’s death contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), through the Texas Rangers’ Cold Case on the Texas Department of Public Safety website, or the Missing Person Hotline at 1-800-346-3243.
