A 4-year-old girl has been missing from Columbus since February 20, with authorities now classifying her disappearance as critical.
The Details: Zariyah Smith was last seen on February 20 in the 300 block of Urban Avenue. Her disappearance wasn’t reported until February 25, five days after she went missing. The young girl has brown eyes and brown hair, stands 3’6″ tall, and weighs between 40-50 pounds.
When last seen, Zariyah was wearing a pink Minnie Mouse shirt, black pants, black/white Converse shoes, and carrying a pink Barbie bookbag.
In Context: Missing children cases become increasingly concerning when there’s a delay between disappearance and reporting. The first 48 hours are considered most critical in locating missing children safely.
Columbus Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation into Zariyah’s whereabouts.
How You Can Help: Anyone with information about Zariyah Smith’s location should immediately call 9-1-1 or contact the Columbus Police Department’s Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3449. You can also reach the lead investigator, CPL Bethani Thompson, directly at the same number.
If you see Zariyah or have any information, no matter how small it might seem, authorities urge you to come forward immediately.
