Overview

Official missing date: March 15, 1996
Missing from: Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Last known Wisconsin address: Town of Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin
Other known connection: Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Age when missing: 70
NamUs: MP62487
Doe Network: 6153DMWI

Main circumstances: Smith’s ex-wife became concerned after losing contact with him and noticing that he had stopped using the checking account that was reportedly his only source of income. Smith had a medical condition and required medication. Although March 15, 1996 is the Wisconsin DOJ’s official missing date, state information indicates family members heard from him as late as May 1996. His ultimate whereabouts remain unknown.

Detailed Case Breakdown

George Edward Smith Missing Person Case: Nekoosa, Wisconsin — Missing Since 1996

George Edward Smith was 70 years old when he disappeared in Wisconsin in 1996. Nearly three decades later, his whereabouts remain unknown, and his case continues to be listed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice as an active missing-person case.

Smith was officially reported missing from Nekoosa, Wisconsin, with the Wisconsin DOJ recording his missing date as March 15, 1996. He had connections to both central Wisconsin and the Tucson, Arizona area, creating a case that potentially spans more than one state.

George Edward Smith’s Disappearance

According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Smith frequently stayed in the Tucson area of Pima County, Arizona. His last known Wisconsin address was in the Town of Rome in Adams County. The circumstances surrounding exactly where he was when he disappeared have never been publicly established.

Smith’s ex-wife, Twyla Smith, became concerned after going months without hearing from him. Public case summaries state that Smith had stopped using the checking account that served as his only source of income. This was considered particularly concerning because Smith had an unspecified medical condition and required medication.

Although March 15, 1996 is the official missing date published by the Wisconsin DOJ, available case information indicates that members of Smith’s family had contact with or heard from him as late as May 1996. This creates an important distinction between his official missing date and the latest reported family contact.

Concerns About Smith’s Health and Finances

The lack of activity in Smith’s checking account became one of the significant warning signs in the case. His ex-wife reportedly explained that the account was his only source of income, yet it had gone unused for months.

She also feared that Smith had died because of his medical condition and her belief that he was no longer obtaining the medication he needed. Her belief that he was deceased, however, is a family concern reported in case records—not confirmation that Smith died or was the victim of a homicide. No publicly available law-enforcement source reviewed for this article establishes that a homicide occurred.

Description of George Edward Smith

Smith was described as a white male with brown hair and blue eyes. Records generally place his height between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 1 inch and his weight between 145 and 165 pounds. The Wisconsin DOJ missing-person poster lists him at approximately 6 feet tall and 155 pounds. He was 70 years old when he disappeared.

The Wisconsin DOJ currently calculates Smith’s age as 100, reflecting the age he would be if alive.

Wisconsin and Arizona Connections

One of the major unanswered questions is whether Smith disappeared while in Wisconsin or traveled elsewhere.

His last known Wisconsin address was in the Town of Rome, Adams County, but he was known to spend significant amounts of time around Tucson in Pima County, Arizona. Those connections mean information originating in either Wisconsin or Arizona could potentially be relevant to establishing his movements in 1996.

Latest Publicly Available Case Information

Smith remains listed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults. The state continues to direct anyone with information to the Town of Rome Police Department. His Wisconsin DOJ poster identifies his NamUs number as MP62487.

The Doe Network added Smith to its missing-person database on May 2, 2024, assigning him case number 6153DMWI. A November 2025 report by Wausau Pilot & Review also continued to list Smith among Wisconsin’s missing people and identified the Town of Rome Police Department as the investigating agency.

As of the latest publicly accessible records reviewed, there is no announced recovery, identification, arrest, confirmed homicide determination, or publicly disclosed investigative breakthrough in Smith’s disappearance. His Wisconsin DOJ listing remains active, and the case continues to be presented publicly as an unresolved missing-person investigation.

Very Brief Case Summary

Official missing date: March 15, 1996
Missing from: Nekoosa, Wisconsin
Last known Wisconsin address: Town of Rome, Adams County, Wisconsin
Other known connection: Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Age when missing: 70
NamUs: MP62487
Doe Network: 6153DMWI

Main circumstances: Smith’s ex-wife became concerned after losing contact with him and noticing that he had stopped using the checking account that was reportedly his only source of income. Smith had a medical condition and required medication. Although March 15, 1996 is the Wisconsin DOJ’s official missing date, state information indicates family members heard from him as late as May 1996. His ultimate whereabouts remain unknown.

Anyone With Information

Anyone who remembers George Edward Smith, had contact with him during 1996, knew about his movements between Wisconsin and Arizona, or has information concerning what happened to him is encouraged to contact the Town of Rome Police Department.

Even information that seemed insignificant at the time could help investigators reconstruct Smith’s movements and determine what happened after his last known contacts.