Police release new details as search for missing 30-year-old Machesney Park woman continues

Katrina A. Smith

Online Staff Report

Police have released more details in the case of missing 30-year-old Machesney Park resident Katrina A. Smith.

Smith was reported missing Tuesday, Oct. 23, by her husband. She was last seen at around 9 p.m., Monday, Oct. 22, leaving her Machesney Park residence to run an errand.

Smith’s vehicle was found abandoned at Obispo and Ventura in Machesney Park at approximately 7:50 p.m., Oct. 23. Neighbors reported seeing the vehicle parked at that location earlier in the day, unoccupied.

Smith’s purse was recovered Wednesday, Oct. 24, a short distance from where the vehicle was located. During a search conducted by family and friends on Oct. 26, papers towels were recovered with a substance believed to be blood on them. These items were recovered in a field between Obispo and Ralston Road. Tests will need to be conducted to determine whether the blood belongs to Smith. Her cell phone was recovered in the 700 block of Ralston Thursday, Oct. 25.

Smith worked in the Human Resources Department at Camryn Company in Belvidere, Ill. She is married and her residence is on Tetterhall Lane in Machesney Park. However, she has recently been staying in Roscoe, Ill. She has no children, but does have family in the area.

Detectives have been able to determine Smith was shopping Monday night, Oct. 22, between 7 and 8 p.m. at department stores in the area of North Second Street and Illinois Route 173 in Machesney Park. She then reportedly returned to her residence in Machesney Park, and left around 9 p.m. to run additional errands.

An extensive search of the area where the vehicle and phone were recovered was conducted with negative results.

Family and friends of Smith have also been conducting searches of the area.

Anyone with information about Smith’s disappearance is asked to call the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Police Detective Bureau at (815) 319-6400) or Crime Stoppers at (815) 963-7867.

Posted Oct. 26, 2012