Jasmaine Smith, 22: Disappeared After Sister's Graduation Party In 2015
Her disappearance may be connected to a sex trafficker who was jailed after a young woman's bones were found in his fire pit.
Investigators believe that the death of 18-year-old Alesha Bell may be tied to the disappearance of Jasmaine Smith. The last time anyone saw Alesha was outside of her Warren, Ohio, home in July 2015, and one month later, drug agents were searching the residence of local man James Earl Brooks.
There, they stumbled upon bone fragments in his fire pit. It was later learned that those bones belonged to Alesha Bell, and in February 2021, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison on several charges, eight years being for Alesha’s death.
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According to reports, Brooks was already given a 22-year sentence after being convicted on federal weapons and drug charges. In Alesha’s case, he pleaded guilty to gross abuse of a corpse, compelling prostitution, involuntary manslaughter, and kidnapping.
Police stated that Brooks was alleged to have run a drug operation, and he admitted to sex trafficking through an escort service. He knew Alesha’s mother because they went to high school together, and she trusted him. The last person alleged to have seen Alesha was Brooks.
Jasmaine’s Last Known Movements & Connection To Brooks
On June 5, 2015, in Farrell, Pennsylvania, Jasmaine Smith was at her family’s home celebrating her little sister’s high school graduation. She traveled across state lines as she lived in nearby Warren, only 30 minutes from Farrell. Her family saw her leave the event without a worry, but when three weeks passed and they had not been able to contact her, they filed a missing person report.
The stories of Alesha Bell and Jasmaine Smith intersect with Brooks because, according to reports, Jasmaine’s family revealed that she knew the trafficker. They fear that Jasmaine may have suffered the same fate as Alesha, or equally as disturbing, she has become a victim of human trafficking.
“This defendant has spent most of his adult life terrorizing people,” U.S. Attorney Carole Rendon said of Brooks in a press release. “This long prison sentence is appropriate given this defendant’s actions.”
“None of her family or close friends heard from her,” said Danielle Wilder, Jasmaine’s mother, back in 2015. “We tried to contact her... We just want our baby home. We just want to hear from her to know that she’s okay.”
Jasmaine Smith: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Jasmaine Smith stood 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. Both of her ears are pierced, and she reportedly has several tattoos: a heart and arrow near the corner of her eye on her upper cheek area, the word “Bubby” inside of a heart on her upper arm, stars on her collarbone, a set of swirls and stars on her hip, and the word “Loyalty” on her throat. Jasmaine has a scar on her upper arm. Her middle name is “Michelle,” and her nickname is “Jazzy.”
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Farrell Police Department at 724-983-2720, (330) 965-2903, or their local authorities. The agency case number is 31E-CV-6666115.
Please share this story about Jasmaine Smith to help reignite the investigation into her case. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number: 31E-CV-6666115
Agency: Farrell Police Department
Phone: 724-983-2720, (330) 965-2903
Email:
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