Left: Alisha circa, 1985
Right: Age Progressed to age 28
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: June 6, 1985
Missing From: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: October 7, 1981
Age: 3 years old
Height and Weight: 3’0″ and 30 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: African American Female, Black hair, Brown eyes, Alisha has a slight discoloration in the corner of her right eye and she had a gap in her bottom front teeth, her ears are both pierced
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A red and white A-line sundress with small checks, white sandals with silver buckles, Alisha was known to be wearing lilac ribbons and may have been wearing gold earrings
NCMEC Number: 601906
Details of Disappearance
Alisha Smiley was last seen in Atlanta, Georgia on June 6th 1985. She was last seen sitting on a bench outside the Omni International Hotel on Techwood Drive at approximately 2:00 pm. She was with her 4 year old cousin, Andrew, as well while her aunt, Estella Evans, went to purchase tickets for a wrestling match not too far away.
When Estella returned from purchasing the tickets, Alisha was gone. She has never been seen or heard from again. Extensive searches of the area turned up no trace of her. It’s possible she may have walked to a nearby McDonalds restaurant while unattended by her aunt. She loved hamburgers and was determined to get one.
Alisha was very trusting and liked everyone. Her family has stated that if she was urged by a stranger to accompany them, she would likely do so. She lived with her aunt and uncle and their children at the time. When Alisha was born, her parents were struggling to get through college and were not able to financially support her. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She had been living with them for approximately 8 months by June of 1985.
Omni Hotel employees stated they had seen Alisha when she asked for a cookie and about a bathroom. Many searches were undertaken and various places such as school grounds and desolate rail yards were looked at. Nothing has ever been located to suggest what happened to her but investigators believe she was abducted by a stranger.
There was once a tip that Alisha was taken to the Lakewood fairgrounds soon after her disappearance and the area was searched. No evidence was located at the scene.
At the time of her disappearance, Alisha was described as a nice and trusting toddler who loved to sing when she woke up in the morning. She loved hamburgers which she referred to as “hamberries” and playing with dolls. She was baptized at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Alisha’s disappearance remains unsolved and abduction is suspected in the case.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Atlanta Police Department 404-853-3434
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Atlanta Constitution 06/11/1985