Police release Wal-Mart surveillance video of 12-year-old Brittany Smith and Jeffrey Easley

A possible sighting of Jeffrey Easley in West Palm Beach, Florida had investigators hopeful  this morning, but the report turned out to be false.

Brittany's aunts on her mother's side made a plea to Jeffrey Easley to "do the right thing" and to "please let Brittany come home for Christmas."  One aunt asked her abductor to "please let Brittany come home to say goodbye to her mother."  Tina Smith was found dead in her home Monday.  Funeral arrangements have not been finalized yet.

Roanoke County Police chief Ray Lavinder made one correction in the description of Jeffrey Easley.  He was originally believed to weigh 265 lbs.  Lavinder now says he is likely more like 215 lbs.

Chief Lavinder encouraged the public to "be vigilant."  He said any information, no matter how small, would be welcome.  Even if it seems silly, Lavinder said, investigators want to hear about it.

Lavinder said he was getting more information from Internet social networking sites Facebook and MySpace.  Brittany Smith, Tina Smith, and Jeff Easley all had profiles on these sites.

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Roanoke County Police will hold a 3:30 p.m. news conference to share the latest on the search for 12-year-old Brittany Mae Smith and 32-year-old Jeffrey Easley. 

We're told several members of Tina Smith's family will make a statement during the news conference.  Police have received more than 500 tips.

WDBJ7.com will live stream the news conference.

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Speaking directly to 12-year-old Brittany Mae Smith through the media, members of her family tearfully asked her to come home to them.

Her cousin, Kim Stephenson, told her that she loved her unconditionally.  She said "I pray for you everyday and will continue to pray for you."

Brittany's aunt, Carolyn Stephenson, asked her to come home to Christmas cookies and "to open all your presents under the tree."

The family members who traveled to Roanoke County for the news conference were part of Brittany's father's side of the family.  Her father works for the South Boston police department.

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Roanoke County Police will hold an 8:30 p.m. news conference. 

We're told member of Brittany's family, relatives of her father, will relay a message to Brittany. 

WDBJ7.com will live stream the news conference.

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Jeff Easley, the man police believe abducted 12-year-old Brittany Mae Smith, bought camping equipment including a blue Ozark Trail 13' x 10' domed tent at Walmart in Salem Friday night. 

Police are asking the public to look out for this tent as well as the 2005 Dodge Neon he is believed to be using.  They would still like to talk to anyone who may have observed the pair in Walmart while Easley was making purchases.

Easley and Brittany Smith were caught on surveillance tape at the Salem Walmart.  Easley used Brittany's mother's credit card at Walmart.  Tina Smith was found dead in her home Monday morning.

In addition to the tent, Roanoke Co. Police chief Ray Lavinder says the pair bought other camping equipment and some bottled drinks.

Police also shared photos of Easley's tattoo in Wednesday afternoon's news conference.  They say Easley has a red star tattoo as well as one that police describe as a black tribal sign.

Roanoke County Police Chief Ray Lavinder says the search for Brittany Mae Smith is moving well beyond Virginia into North Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.  Amber alerts for the 12-year-old have been issued all of those states.  The chief says he doesn't know if Easley is armed.

Lavinder appealed to Easley to allow Brittany to be involved in the planning of her mother's funeral and to attend the funeral.  The chief of police said "It is important that she should be allowed to say goodbye to her mother."

Lavinder restated that he thought someone may be helping the pair survive since Easley had very little money to travel or buy food.

Police thanked the Smith and Easley families for their cooperation in the investigation.  Jeffrey Easley's mother, Sallie Martin, made a plea directly to her son yesterday asking him to return Brittany safely.

Here are the two photos they released during the 3:30 p.m. news conference Wednesday.





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Authorities in Roanoke County have filed a felony abduction warrant against 32-year-old Jeff Easley, the man they believe is holding Brittany Mae Smith.  In a news conference Wednesday morning Police Chief Ray Lavinder said he had a feeling that someone was helping the pair stay hidden from the police and the public.  He says Easley had very little money and no one has seen them in five days. Lavinder said "I'm almost certain someone knows where they are."  The chief reinforced that there are laws on the books that could be applied to anyone who is withholding information or sheltering Easley and Smith.

Lavinder reminded the public that Brittany Smith is a 12-year-old girl and not capable of making legal decisions.  He says "consent is irrelevant" in this case.  He says we must all remember that this is "a 12-year-old girl in the company of a 32-year-old man."

Police believe Easley is traveling in Tina Smith's 2005 Dodge Neon.  They believe the car has a small spoiler added to the back which may make it more identifiable.

Lavinder says police believe Brittany's mother, Tina, was killed in her home on Friday but authorities will never know for sure exactly when.  Easley is accused of using Tina Smith's credit card at the Salem Walmart Friday night.  Salem police have issued warrants against him for credit card fraud and larceny. 

When asked what the pair bought at Walmart, Lavinder would not disclose the information but indicated police may have more details on that aspect of the investigation in a briefing later today.

The chief says the credit cards have not been used since Friday night.  Police also say Brittany Smith has not used her cell phone.

Lavinder expressed concerns on national television Wednesday morning and again in today's news conference that the social networking sites Facebook and MySpace have not been very cooperative with authorities.

 

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Authorities will hold a 10:30 a.m. news conference to share the latest information on the search for 12-year-old Brittany Smith and 32-year-old Jeffrey Easley.

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In a news conference Tuesday afternoon Roanoke County police said Brittany Mae Smith and Jeff Easley were seen in Walmart in Salem Friday night. Police have surveillance video of the pair shopping at the store between 8:00pm and 8:30pm. 

Authorities say 32-year-old Jeff Easley used Tina Smith's credit card to purchase items in Walmart.  Salem Police have issued warrants for Easley for credit card fraud and credit card larceny. Tina Smith, Brittany's mother, was found murdered in her home Monday.  Police also believe Jeff Easley is using Smith's car, a silver 2005 Dodge Neon.

Jeff Easley's mother, Sallie Martin, made a plea directly to her son to contact her or police.  She urged Jeff to take Brittany to a safe place and return her or call 911.  She told her son that she loved him and that they would work this out.

Police say the first phase of the autopsy on Tina Smith has been completed and they are now treating the case as a homicide investigation.  Police would not reveal of cause of death.

Authorities have received more than two-hundred tips since the investigation began.  They are now hoping shoppers who were in Walmart in Salem on Friday night will call them and give details about seeing  Jeff Easley and Brittany Mae Smith in the store.

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Authorities in Roanoke County believe 12-year-old Brittany Mae Smith is still in grave danger and are appealing to her friends for information.

Smith is believed to be with 32-year-old Jeffrey Scott Easley, a friend of her mothers who she met online this summer.  Easley moved into Tina Smith's home in October.  Tina Smith was found dead Monday in her home on Fort Lewis Circle.  The medical examiner is still conducting the autopsy of Tina Smith.  Authorities hope to have a cause of death by Tuesday afternoon.

Easley was last seen in Southeast Roanoke Friday night.  Tina Smith and her daughter, Brittany, were seen leaving their home Friday morning, according to Lavinder.

When asked if Brittany Mae Smith was abducted, Roanoke County Police Chief Ray Lavinder answered that they feel confident that she is with Easley.  Easley has connections to Eastern North Carolina and Alabama.  Police are checking in both areas for any information about Easley. 

Chief Lavinder is asking for people to be on the lookout for the 2005 Silver Dodge Neon, VA XKF-2365, Tina Smith's missing car.

Tips have been coming in to Virginia State Police and local authorities.  Chief Lavinder says these tips have been helpful and asked the public to continue to call and email.  A new email address findbrittany@roanokecountyva.gov has been set up to help handle the tips coming in. 

Chief Lavinder is hoping people outside of Virginia who may have seen the missing girl or car will contact authorities. 

If you have any information, you're asked to call the Roanoke County Police Dept at (540)562-3265 or the Virginia State Police at 1-800-822-4453 (1-800-VACHILD).

Glenvar Middle School is holding a candlelight vigil for the missing 12 year old.  It will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Highlander Stadium located behind Glenvar High School.

Another news conference is schedule for 3:30 p.m.  WDBJ7.com will live stream the news conference.

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Authorities will hold a Noon news conference to provide the latest information on the search for 12-year-old Brittany Mae Smith.    

Roanoke County Police Chief Ray Lavinder and Lt. Chuck Mason will speak during the news conference.  FBI, Virginia State Police, and possibly the City of Salem will also be in attendance.  

WDBJ7.com will live stream the full news conference.  

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An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing 12 year old. 

Roanoke County Police are looking for Brittany Mae Smith.  She was last seen at 3341 Fort Lewis Cr, Salem.  According to the Amber Alert, "The child is likely abducted by Jeffrey Scott Easley, White, male, age 32." 

Police are searching for a missing 2005 Silver Dodge VA XKF-2365, the make has been identified as a Neon.  Roanoke County police have located the 2000 Red Chevrolet SUV.  Brittany Mae Smith is a 7th grader at Glenvar Middle School. 

Police issued the Amber Alert after they found the body of a female inside the home on Fort Lewis Circle.  Authorities have identified the woman as 41-year-old Tina Smith.  Her death is being investigated as a possible homicide.  Brittany Mae Smith is the daughter of Tina Smith.  Police say Jeffrey Scott Easley was a friend of Tina Smith. 

Brittany Smith's father is a South Boston police officer.  We're told he is cooperating with authorities investigating Brittany's abduction. 

Please contact the Roanoke County Police Dept at (540)562-3265 or the Virginia State Police at 1-800-822-4453 (1-800-VACHILD).

Description of Brittany:

Brittany Mae Smith
White
Female
AGE: 12 years old
HEIGHT: 5 feet 00 inches
WEIGHT: 100 lbsBrown eyes and straight Brown hair

 

Description of Jeffrey Scott Easley:

Jeffrey Scott Easley
White
male
AGE 32 years old
HEIGHT 5 feet 11 inches
WEIGHT 265 lbsHazel EYES AND Brown HAIR

Here is the full Amber Alert:

CALL 5405623265 OR 911 IF SEEN|2000 Red Chevrolet SUV XPR-4366 VA|Last seen 3341 Fort Lewis Cr Salem|W/M,32YR,5'11,265LB,Hazel EYES,Brown HAIR,Jeffrey Scott Easley|W/F,12YR,5'00,100LB,Brown EYES,Brown HAIR,Brittany Mae Smith

THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AND VIRGINIA MISSING CHILDREN CLEARINGHOUSE HAVE ISSUED AN AMBER ALERT FOR A CHILD ABDUCTION ON BEHALF OF THE Roanoke County Police Dept IN Salem ON 12/02/2010.

THE Roanoke County Police Dept IS LOOKING FOR Brittany Mae Smith, White, female, AGE 12 years old, HEIGHT 5 feet 00 inches, WEIGHT 100 lbs, WITH Brown EYES AND Straight Brown HAIR.

THE CHILD IS BELIEVED TO BE IN EXTREME DANGER AND WAS LAST SEEN AT 3341 Fort Lewis Cr, Salem, VA.
THE CHILD IS LIKELY ABDUCTED BY Jeffrey Scott Easley, White, male, AGE
32 years old, HEIGHT 5 feet 11 inches, WEIGHT 265 lbs, WITH Hazel EYES AND Brown HAIR.

THEY MAY BE TRAVELING IN A 2000 Red Chevrolet SUV, LICENSE XPR-4366, VA

PLEASE CONTACT THE Roanoke County Police Dept AT (540)562-3265 OR THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE AT 1-800-822-4453 (1-800-VACHILD).

YOU MAY FIND COMPLETE INFORMATION AT www.vaamberalert.com <http://www.vaamberalert.com>

Victim's mother's vehicle is missing, suspect may be in it Silver 2005 Dodge 4d sdn VA-XKF2365.