RED GATOR NEWS

Local Teen Found Dead After Six-Month Disappearance; Questions Remain. By Alan P. Werner - September 28, 1987 HURRICANE, UTAH - Nearly one year after local waitress Annabelle Smith was reported missing, authorities have released limited information about the circumstances surrounding her death, leaving the community with more questions than answers. Smith, 19, disappeared on October 31, 1986, and was found deceased on April 15, 1987. The official cause of death has been listed as "head trauma due to accidental fall," according to the police department's September 20 statement. According to police reports, Smith was last seen by her friend Kathrine "Kat" Walters on the night of her disappearance. In an exclusive interview with this publication, Walters described her friend as someone whose "smile always brightened any room she walked into." "I don't know where she could have gone, I don't know who could have done something to someone like her," Walters stated. She also mentioned feeling uneasy that night, saying she "thought someone might be watching us" but found it difficult to articulate her concerns at the time. Smith's parents and friends described her as mentally stable with strong relationships, eliminating the possibility that she had run away voluntarily. Her boyfriend, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed they were attending a party at his parents' house on the night of her disappearance, located several miles from a recently evacuated campground and hotel. The boyfriend noted their relationship had experienced some tension following an incident at Smith's workplace, where she was employed as a waitress. He revealed that Smith had recently discussed the 1985 "Hurricane Utah Missing Children's Case," in which five local children vanished during a party at the pizza restaurant where she worked. Smith had also been present during the 1983 incident known locally as the "Bite of '83," where a child sustained fatal injuries from a malfunctioning animatronic at the same establishment. The disappearance occurred during an unusual period of activity in the area. Between November 1985 and September 1987, authorities recovered six bodies, including Smith's. The other five victims remain unidentified, and their cases are still unsolved. A nearby campsite and hotel had been evacuated and shut down just two weeks before Smith's disappearance due to the ongoing investigation. Despite heavy police presence in the area, no immediate leads were discovered. The coroner's report indicates Smith died approximately three days before her body was discovered, meaning she had been alive but missing for nearly six months. The autopsy report has been classified, and authorities have released minimal information about the investigation. FBI Senior Executive Prescott Anderson confirmed that several individuals mentioned in related case files have connections to either the incidents or the people involved. These files have not been made available to the public. The lack of transparency has frustrated many in the community who are seeking closure. Local residents have expressed concern about the limited information released and the classified nature of key documents. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Hurricane Police Department.