Dana Smithers, a 45-year-old mother of three from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, went missing in May 2022. Her remains were finally discovered in April 2023, but her cause and manner of death are still undetermined. Here is what we know so far about her mysterious disappearance and death.
Contents
The Last Time She Was Seen Alive
According to NBC News, Dana was last seen alive on May 28, 2022, leaving her neighbor’s house. She had spent some time with her youngest daughter and her daughter’s father at a festival earlier that day. Her phone, purse, and other personal items were later recovered at her house.
Dana’s sister, Stacey Smithers, told NBC News that Dana was a loving and fun-loving person who adored her children. She said Dana had no enemies and no reason to disappear.
The Discovery of Her Remains
Dana’s remains were found on April 27, 2023, by a borough employee who was working near the Park Avenue/80E on-ramp in Stroudsburg. The Stroud Area Regional Police Department (SARPD) said in a press release that the remains were recovered by detectives and turned over to the coroner’s office.
The autopsy, conducted on May 1, 2023, confirmed that the remains belonged to Dana. However, the cause and manner of her death are still pending further testing, according to SARPD.
The Possible Connection to Bryan Kohberger
Bryan Kohberger is a 24-year-old man who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in an off-campus home in September 2023. He was arrested in Washington state after a manhunt and extradited to Idaho to face four counts of first-degree murder.
According to The Independent, Kohberger was living in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, at the time of Dana’s disappearance. He moved to Washington state in the summer of 2022 to pursue a graduate degree program in criminal justice.
In a surprising twist, Kohberger’s parents, Michael and Maryann Kohberger, have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury investigating Dana’s disappearance and death. A source told CNN that his mother has already given evidence to the grand jury while his father was expected to testify on Thursday.
It is unclear what connection, if any, Kohberger or his parents have to Dana or her case. SARPD said in a statement that they have no evidence that Dana’s disappearance is in any way tied to Kohberger.
The Ongoing Investigation
Dana’s case remains an active and ongoing investigation by SARPD and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. They are asking anyone with information about Dana or her case to contact them at 570-421-6800 or email info@sarpd.com.
Dana’s family and friends are hoping for answers and justice for their loved one. They have set up a Facebook page called “Justice for Dana Smithers” to share updates and memories of Dana. They also have a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses and support for Dana’s children.
