A Virginia Transgender Teen Disappeared Nearly 12 Years Ago. Then, a Man Who May Have Info Went Missing, Too.

A Virginia transgender teen went missing after last being seen near a Charlotteville Amtrak station. The case was later deemed a homicide, and police had a person interest who may have had knowledge about the case, but he then disappeared, too.

Dashad "Sage" Smith has been missing since around 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, 2012. Their body has never been found despite the case being reclassified as a homicide.

Now, nearly 12 years have passed since they were last seen. Police believe Erik McFadden was the last person to have contact with Smith, but he left Charlottesville on Nov. 23, 2014, and hasn't been seen since, according to The Charley Project.

Smith would be 21 in next month.

“This is a loss that is different from other losses because there is no closure. It’s like you can’t finish grieving; it’s a continuance untied feeling that hits me,” Smith’s mother, LaTasha Dennis told WHSV in 2019.

The situation has left the whole family searching for answers. “With every milestone I reach, I wish he was able to be there getting my license, graduation, scholarship ceremonies or college move-in day, but he is not,” Eanna Langston, Smith’s sister, told the outlet.

According to WHSV, McFadden briefly spoke with police soon after Smith first disappeared, but later when he was supposed to go to the police station he disappeared and hasn't been heard from since.

“We believe Eric has ties to the Joppa/Baltimore Maryland area, Rochester, New York, Columbia, South Carolina, Lake City, South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania,” Lead Detective Regine Wright said in 2019.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for anyone who can lead police to McFadden or Smith.

Still, time continues to pass without any answers.