MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1998-5
Tera Lynn Smith
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Redding, CA
Summary:
Tera Smith was last seen leaving her family's residence on Tarcy Way in rural Redding, California to go for a jog between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on August 22, 1998. She did not have permission to leave the house (she was grounded, likely for sneaking out) that night on her own and her sister tried to stop her however, Tera said she would be back before their parents got home. She never returned home and has not been seen again.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
That evening, Tera ran errands with her mom (Marilyn) who then dropped her off at the house. Marilyn then headed into work and Sierra was home with Tera. Tera was scheduled to work at the family business her parents owned - Oasis Fun Center. Her shift started just about an hour after her mother Marilyn’s did. But Tera never showed up to work her shift. Marilyn called home and spoke with Sierra who told her that Tera went jogging and was supposed to be gone for only 20 minutes but didn't come home. Marilyn left work and started driving around on the various roads hoping to find her jogging. Younger sister Kyra was at a best-friends birthday party and was called into work since Tera didn't show up. Tera had never missed work before. Marilyn had called around to friends to try to find Tera and one of them alerted her that they thought Tera was having an inappropriate relationship with her Taekwondo instructor, Troy Zink. Terry (Dad) and Marilyn then became concerned and called the police. Around 9pm they went to Zink's house. His mother stated he wasn't home.
Additional Details:
The last person to possibly see Tera was her former Taekwondo instructor and reported boyfriend, Troy Zink driving a 1976 dark blue Ford full size fleetside pick-up truck with mag wheels and a yellow tailgate. He told authorities that Tera called him during the evening hours of August 22nd and asked him to meet her near her home at 6:30 p.m. He said he picked her up and then dropped her off a couple of miles from her house. Troy said he then went to Hang Glider Hill to pray for 5 hours. Several days after Tera was missing, parents went through Tera's belongings and found a letter to Troy Zink. The Smiths believe that on the evening of August 22, Tera planned on telling Zink that their relationship was over. The Smiths later learned that Zink had a prior conviction for spousal rape in 1992. According to court records, Zink denied the claims that he had forced his ex-wife to have sex with him at knife point. He claimed that he had sex with his ex-wife, while telling her that he was going to kill himself. During the investigation, Zink was found to be in possession of old firearms in his taekwondo studio. He was arrested for their possession as a convicted felon. In 1999, a jury found him guilty of the charge and sentenced him to 4 years in prison. Zink denied any involvement in Tera being missing. He told police that while he was at work, Tera called him to pick her up. According to Zink, the following set of circumstances occurred: Zinc saw Tera standing at the end of her driveway when he arrived. She approached the vehicle and asked Zinc for $2,000. He told her he didn't have that much money but would give her money if she said what it was for. Zinc stated Tera got angry and she asked him for a ride. Zinc said he gave Tera a ride and let her out on Old Oregon Trail and she went jogging.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Troy Zinc was convicted of weapon possession by a felon and sentenced to four years. He appealed in 2001 and was denied.
Troy Zink called Tera's parents and said Tera was with him earlier in the night but he dropped her off and then went out to pray for 5 hours.
Mom and Dad went to Zink's house and his parents said he wasn't home.
Troy Zink reported Tera called him and asked to meet him near her house at this time.
Tera left the house for a jog. She was grounded but she told her sister she would be back before their parents got home.
Troy Zink was convicted for spousal rape at knife point. He was a convicted felon.
Associated Persons
Terry S. (Father) - Living
Marilyn S. (Mother) - Living
Sierra S. (Sibling) - Living
Trevor S. (Sibling) - Living
Kyra S. (Sibling) - Living
Troy Z. (Other) - Living
Family Tree
Why is this important?Missing person
Father
Mother
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Father
Mother
Missing Person
Missing Person
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