(NewsNation) — Relatives of missing woman Ruthey Smith fear she may have been trafficked and are hoping to use a billboard to draw more attention to her disappearance.
Dec. 27, 2024, should have been Smith’s 22nd birthday. Instead, her family pleaded for the public’s help in finding her nearly three years after she disappeared in a Los Angeles area notorious for gang violence and prostitution.
Smith was last seen in March 2022. She had been working as a prostitute to gain financial independence for her daughter, who was born when Smith was 16.
Her family describes Smith as a devoted mother. They had tried to find help and support for her, even staging an intervention for her.
Smith’s mother said she thinks Smith’s being a sex worker and a Black woman have contributed to a lack of attention and urgency when it comes to investigating her case. The family said they initially approached the Los Angeles Police Department after Smith disappeared but the police refused to take the case.
Ruthey and her daughter, Ocean. (Amanda Lourenco) 
Ruthey disappeared from Los Angeles. (Amanda Lourenco) 
Ruthey Smith and her daughter Ocean love the beach. (Amanda Lourenco) 
Ruthey and her daughter Ocean love the beach. (Amanda Lourenco) 
Ruthey and her family. (Amanda Lourenco) 
As a child, Ruthey loved the ocean. (Amanda Lourenco) 
Ruthey and her family at their last Christmas together. (Amanda Lourenco)
The Long Beach Police Department is currently leading the investigation, which has no leads.
Smith’s family has entered DNA samples into NamUs, a database that is used to help identify unknown bodies. The DNA has not been linked to any Jane Doe, which is what leads them to believe Smith is alive and is a victim of sex trafficking.
Long Beach council member Al Austin helped the family erect the billboard, in hopes someone will come forward with information about Smith’s whereabouts.
Ruthey Smith is a Black woman who is 5’4″ and 125 pounds. She may also use the names Grayson and Winter. She has a tattoo that says “Ocean” with a wave on her chest and a pierced nose and belly ring. Anyone with information on her should contact the Long Beach Police Department at (562) 435-6711.