ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Two Albany families are still searching for their missing loved ones.

In January 2016, 76-year-old Lewis “Treeman” Smith fell and hit his head at a convenience store in Albany and was picked up from Phoebe Memorial Hospital and dropped off near his home by a private car service.

In May 2024, 60-year-old Eric “Waldo” Glaze suffered a fall at a local corner store, and he was last seen walking out of Phoebe after being discharged.

The question is whether their disappearances are connection or coincidence.

Albany Police Department Lieutenant Jon Segrovens said, “These cases are very much a coincidence. There is no connection between either one of them. The coincidence is that they— both of them had fallen, both were older gentlemen at that time and both suffered a head injury.”

Lewis “Treeman” Smith

Smith fell and bumped his head, knocking him unconscious at a homerun store on Jan. 13, 2016. He was taken to Phoebe Memorial Hospital and released the same day. On Jan. 14, 2016, he fell again—hitting the same spot—and was taken back to the hospital. He was discharged the following day and dropped off in his neighborhood by a private car service, but he never made it home.

Smith’s younger brother, Jonah Smith, said holidays and special occasions are the most difficult time—looking around and not seeing his brother.

“I hope it would be an end to all of this and everyone keep praying and looking toward heaven that God would give us the answers we need,” Smith said. “It’s a little ironic for something like that to happen and don’t nobody know about it...so I’m quite sure that it’s somebody who knows something, and they are not coming forward to present themselves.”

Investigators spoke to neighbors who said they saw Smith the day he was dropped off, but a search around Lee Street and Odom Avenue didn’t lead to any possible clues of where he went.

Segrovens said, “Without the public’s help or knowledge on this, the case is actually at a standstill.”

Eric “Waldo” Glaze

On May 30, 2024, Glaze suffered his second fall at his long-time job K&S Corner Store, now Brothers Corner Store. He was taken to Phoebe where he was seen walking out after being discharged. Glaze has not been seen since.

Glaze’s nephew said that he does not feel like his uncle’s case has gotten enough attention by law enforcement.

“They act like they don’t care. Nobody is concerned but the family,” Reggie Clark said.

Glaze’s niece, Latesha Majors, said, “Up in the air because we just don’t know.”

Glaze’s family stands firm on the belief that there is foul play, even calling on Albany Police to investigate his former employers.

“What I would say is that if it was any indication that this case had any sign of foul play, it would be investigated as such. The thing is, the investigation has not yielded cause for that now,” Detective Keaundre Woodall, Sr. said.

Two families suffering similar grief, wanting answers as to what happened to their loved ones, hoping that someone would give investigators a lead on what happened.

Woodall said, “My message if I had to summarize all of that would be ‘today it’s this family, but tomorrow it could be you or yours.’”

Albany Police said finding missing persons—especially elderly individuals—is challenging on its own. That is why investigators strongly encourage families to document essential information about their loved ones, including:

• A recent, public-friendly photo and physical description
• List of medications and health conditions
• Frequent places they visit when lost or disoriented
• Next of kin or emergency contact information
• Names of people they regularly interact with
• General overview of their routines and behaviors

The more detailed information, the better chances are of locating loved ones quickly and safely.

Albany Police investigators are working to bring closure and answers to both families, but at this time, they are relying on the community to report anything that may help. If you have any information about what happened, you can call (229)431-2100 or 229-436-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous.

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