Unexplained Trip: The Mysterious and Strange Disappearance and Death of Judy Smith
On April 10, 1997, Judy Smith set out on a sightseeing tour in Philadelphia from which she never returned. Five months later, her remains were inexplicably found in a North Carolina forest
Background
On April 10, 1997, 50-year-old Judy Smith left the hotel where she and her husband Jeffery were staying in Center City, Philadelphia, to do some sightseeing. Jeffery was in town on business, and Judy had joined him on the trip, as it was an opportunity for her to visit some of the historical attractions in the city.
That morning, Jeffery was attending a business conference, so they agreed that Judy would explore the city during the day and meet back up with Jeffery at the hotel around 6 p.m. for a cocktail party.
However, when Jeffery returned to the couple’s room that evening, Judy was not there. Thinking she may have already gone to the party, Jeffery checked there. When he could not locate Judy, he became very concerned.
After nearly five months of searching, Judy Smith’s remains were discovered by hunters near Ashville, North Carolina, more than 600 miles south of Philadelphia. Far from providing closure, the discovery of Judy Smith’s remains only raised further questions about this strange and puzzling mystery.
Judy Smith
Judith Eldredge, later known as Judy Smith, was a kind-hearted, dependable woman who worked as a home-care nurse in Newton, Massachusetts. She was born on December 15, 1946, in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and spent most of her adult life helping others.
Friends and family described her as nurturing and warm, someone who always had a moment to listen and a smile to share. She liked simple pleasures like a hot cup of coffee in the morning, spending time with her grown children, and taking walks around the neighborhood.
However, Judy's personal life saw its share of challenges. Her first marriage ended abruptly when her husband left for Sweden to avoid the Vietnam War draft. She later married Charles Bradford, a thoroughbred racetrack worker.
The couple had two children, a son and a daughter. This marriage also ended in divorce, leaving Judy as a single mother responsible for raising her young children.
Determined to provide a better future for her family, Judy enrolled in nursing school. Balancing her studies with the demands of motherhood was no small feat, but her unwavering commitment saw her through. She eventually became a home health nurse, known for her compassionate care and resourcefulness.
It was during this period that Judy met Jeffrey Smith, a successful lawyer from Boston. Their paths crossed when Judy was caring for Jeffrey's ailing father. A connection blossomed between them, which led to a decade-long relationship.
In September 1996, after ten years together, Judy and Jeffrey exchanged vows, marking the beginning of their married life.
Events Before Disappearance
Judy was an adventurous spirit with a passion for travel. She had previously taken her children on extended trips to Europe and even journeyed solo to Thailand to visit the family of a former patient. Her love for exploring new places was evident.
Therefore, it was not unusual that Judy accompanied her husband on his April 1997 business trip to Philadelphia, as it gave her an opportunity to take in some of the historical landmarks and sites that the city has to offer.
Judy was excited to visit historic sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. She even packed a red backpack with some essentials for a day of sightseeing.
Jeffrey was scheduled to attend a three-day legal conference hosted by the American Society of Law, Medicine, and Ethics. The conference was set to begin on April 9 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Center City.
The couple also planned to combine Jeffrey's conference obligations with some leisure time, intending to visit friends in New Jersey after the conference.
On April 9, 1997, as they prepared to board their flight at Boston's Logan International Airport, Judy realized she had forgotten her driver's license at home. Given the stringent FAA regulations requiring valid identification for air travel, this oversight meant she couldn't board the flight with Jeffrey.
Since she didn’t want to delay Jeffrey’s plans, Judy returned home to retrieve her ID and caught a later flight. Judy made it to Philadelphia later that evening and joined Jeffrey at the DoubleTree Hotel in Center City. She arrived with a bouquet of flowers, apologizing for the earlier inconvenience.
Disappearance of Judy Smith
The following morning, on April 10, Jeffrey left early to attend the opening sessions of his conference. Judy told him she planned to take a self-guided tour of the city, and they agreed to reunite in the evening for a cocktail party at the hotel.
That morning, Judy dressed casually in a red sweater, jeans, sneakers, and a navy blue backpack and set out.
As Jeffrey immersed himself in the day's events, he had no inkling of the unsettling turn the day would take. When he returned to their hotel room that evening, expecting to find Judy preparing for the party, he was met with an empty room.
Assuming she had lost track of time or perhaps was already at the event, he proceeded to the cocktail party. However, Judy was nowhere to be found, and no one at the hotel had seen her return.