There are any number of theories about what happened to missing teenager Macin Smith back in 2015. The truth is, we don’t know. Many have expressed their suspicions in comments, conversations, articles, videos, and television interviews. From these various accounts, certain familiar themes, like those seen in Hollywood true crime stories weave a variety of possibilities. We’ve compiled a list of six for investigators to ponder.
- A Depressed Macin Throws Himself in the River or Off a Cliff – This theory has the support of at least one local reporter and another familiar with the Smith family. Missing persons cases often involve searching bodies of water nearby. The closest body of water to the Smith’s family former home is the Virgin River. There’s also the Sand Hollow Reservoir, and Quail Creek State Park. On Macin’s Facebook page, the cover photo shows him atop a nearby rock formation. All of these locations have apparently been searched and to date no sign of Macin has ever been found.
- A Distraught Macin Runs Away Only to be Trafficked – The idea of running away from home as a teenager may seem appealing, but the reality is, many teens end up becoming victims of sex traffickers and other predators. In this scenario, Macin wearing only a t-shirt, shorts, and basketball shoes, is abducted near his home and sex trafficked or killed. Like many places in this country, there are registered sex offenders living nearby. Could this have been Macin’s fate? If so, someone knows something. Hopefully, they will come forward or be caught.
- Macin Commits Suicide in His Bedroom and His Parents Cover It Up – At least one person known to be close to the case, believes this is what happened. It’s unclear what the motivation would be, accept perhaps to conceal the truth from the community or Macin’s siblings. There are indications Macin was not fond of his father beginning around the age of twelve. Could Macin’s body have had clues to previous abuse that would have come to light if an autopsy was performed? If this were the case, the body would need to be disposed of. Darrin Smith was reportedly working in the yard the day Macin was reported missing. Could the body be buried in the backyard or in the nearby desert? Could Darrin have disposed of the body after checking-in at Vasa Fitness, or on the way to Las Vegas days later? Investigators should have searched the residence using blood hounds, but it’s possible they didn’t. Another individual close to the case, claims the scene was compromised and the investigation poorly conducted.
- Macin Runs Away to Escape His Overbearing Parents and Starts a New Life – There are a number of statements made in interviews by Macin’s mother, Tracey Smith that seem to point us in this direction. The reference to a previous attempt by Macin to run away while living in Canada in 2013. The story about him having resumes in a backpack when he left in the dead of winter. Resumes, really? Besides being odd behavior for a fifteen-year-old, it would show a proclivity for packing necessities. Tracey Smith mentioned Macin having talked of disappearing in California and never being found. In retrospect, these stories may be contrived. Wouldn’t Macin have learned a lesson from his first attempt, that he needed a change of clothes? There’s also the wallet left behind in his nightstand, which reportedly contained his identification and allowance money. If he is out there, let’s hope someone recognizes him, or that he comes forward to let us know he’s alright. There are literally tens of thousands of people searching and praying for Macin. Many of us, upon hearing of him being alive, would be more than happy to assist him in any way we could.
- Macin’s Father Loses His Cool and Kills Macin by Accident – Contrary to the parent’s assertion that no argument led to Macin’s disappearance, a family member claimed in a public statement, that the mysterious note referenced an argument. Macin was said to have cancelled a driving lesson with his father and went to bed early with a headache the day before being reported missing. Macin lacked self-confidence according to those who knew him, and he had no interest in learning to drive. His father insisted however. There seemed to be an urgency in getting Macin to become an independent adult. Perhaps having transportation would allow Macin to pursue employment opportunities and move out on his own. While some have speculated violence against Macin to be the cause behind his sudden disappearance, there is no indication of prior arrests or convictions in the immediate family. No reports of prior acts of violence have been reported. Some have asserted that Darrin looked suspicious in television interviews. Perhaps the stress of having a child disappear, along with speaking publicly, and news reporters pushing a microphone in your face, could cause such a reaction. Public speaking is known to be one of people’s greatest fears.
- Macin’s Father Kills Macin to Avoid Paying for College – Money is often a motive for murder. The cost of a college education with room and board can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars. Some have speculated that Macin’s parents may have been waiting for Macin to graduate before filing for divorce. Macin was the youngest child in the family. Since Macin had excellent grades, it’s likely he would want to continue his education, perhaps getting his Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. This additional financial responsibility would likely be shared by the parents. Macin was reportedly not particularly fond of his father. Is it possible his father felt the same way toward Macin? Darrin might have seen the additional financial responsibility as an impediment to his eventual freedom after a 30-year-marriage. The parents’ divorce was finalized in 2018.
This is not intended to be a full and complete list of theories in Macin Smith’s disappearance. It’s merely an attempt to categorize the various possibilities that have circulated thus far. Do you have information you would like to share? What do you think is the most likely scenario? Where should investigators look next?