Long Beach police are asking the public’s help in finding a missing mother who was last seen two years ago. Nataly Tavidian spoke with the family of Ruthey Smith Saturday.
They believe she may be a victim of human trafficking.
Smith was last seen in March 2022 along the Figueroa Street Corridor.
She was 19 years old and she had a baby girl who is now 3 years old.
“I need people to re-share. To say her name. If someone knows about her whereabouts I need them to submit a tip to law enforcement,” said Smith’s mother, Kathryn Renesto. “The police have nothing. They think they have a person of interest but there is nothing.”
She described her daughter as a 5’4 mixed race woman with a small red tattoo near both ears.
“At this time, the Long Beach Police Department is actively investigating this case, following all leads, and needs the community’s help,” said Long Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Alexis Lauro in a statement provided to KNX. “If you have any information about Missing Person Ruthey Smith, we urge you to please contact LBPD Missing Persons at 562.570.7246. You can also anonymously submit tips to www.LACrimeStoppers.org.”
A press conference regarding the search for Smith was held Friday. Retired Los Angeles Police Department Detective Moses Castillo was in attendance.