Left and Center: Melissa, circa 1991
Right: Age-Progressed to age 47
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 8, 1991
Missing From: Akron, Summit County, Ohio
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: November 25, 1973
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’3″ and 120 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Biracial (Black & White) Female, Brown hair, Brown eyes, Melissa has a scar on her upper left arm, her ears and nose are pierced, she wears eyeglasses and her nicknames include “Lisa” and “Lisaboone”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A gold chain necklace and a nose ring
NCMEC Number: 758425
Details of Disappearance
Melissa was last seen in Akron, Ohio on August 8th 1991. She disappeared with her infant daughter, Jasmine Collins. At 4:00 pm, the two were dropped off at their home located at 162 Westwood Avenue by Melissa’s mother, Betty Collins. They had spent the day running errands at Rolling Acres Mall such as picking up studio pictures of Jasmine at J.C. Penney and going to a laundromat.
The last person to see the two was a 37 year old man named Raymond “Sweet Pea” Smith. He dated the woman who sublet her apartment to Melissa. At 7:30 pm, Smith stated both Melissa and Jasmine left their house to walk to a grocery store four blocks away. No one has seen or heard from the two since.
Betty reported both Melissa and Jasmine were reported missing on August 19th, eleven days after they vanished. She said this was because Melissa had previously run away from home after she became pregnant with Jasmine. She had a friend tell her parents that she was fine two days after leaving home. Melissa returned home two weeks to a month after running away.
Despite the previous runaway incident, it was out of character for Melissa to stop contacting her mother and everyone she loves. She would call her mother on the phone several times a day and even stayed in touch when she ran away.
Nonetheless, the first detective assigned to the case was adamant that Melissa ran away and took her infant daughter with her because she was “confused” about her racial identity; Melissa is biracial. Her family has stated this assumption crippled the initial investigation. Investigators no longer believe she ran away, they fear something sinister happened to both Melissa and Jasmine.
Sometime after the disappearance, Betty visited Melissa’s home and noticed she left behind all of her personal possessions. Her purse was in the bedroom and her clothes had been freshly washed and folded neatly. Betty also noted that the refrigerator was stocked with baby bottles and there were still diapers for Jasmine. She even left behind a plaque with Jasmine’s birthdate on it. Police do not believe Melissa left with her daughter.
Raymond Smith has been named as a person of interest in the case. He left the apartment shortly after Melissa and Jasmine did that evening. When he returned a day or two later, a witness noted his clothing was stained with what looked like blood. Unfortunately, this witness came forward too late and the clothing couldn’t be tested. Smith has a history of violence, and mental illness. He has prior felony convictions for sexual imposition, drug charges, and aggravated assault.
He was reportedly out on bond for a charge of receiving stolen property at the time of Jasmine and Melissa’s disappearance. Smith was also being hunted by crack dealers for robbing a drug house and was overall troubled. Betty said that Melissa told her she felt uncomfortable around Smith because he made advances towards her. Raymond was previously a patient at the Portage Path Community Mental Health Center.
Investigators stated they believed he might’ve been linked to a death that occurred nearly ten years before the Collins went missing in 1991. On June 11th 1983, the body of thirteen year old Willie J. Delbridge was found floating in a swimming pool in Tuskegee, Alabama. Delbridge’s cause of death is currently unknown but he might be related to Smith.
On February 12th 1992, Raymond Smith committed suicide in the basement of his house. His girlfriend found a suicide note that only has five words “To whom it may concern.” It didn’t mention anything about the Collins case or anything else for that matter. While his motive for ending his life is unclear, it’s very likely due to the fact he was facing criminal charges and didn’t want to return to prison. He was not questioned about Melissa and Jasmine before his death.
Both Jasmine and her mother remain missing. The case remains unsolved and foul play is strongly suspected.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Akron Police Department 330-375-2552
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The Akron Beacon Journal 03/11/1992
The Akron Beacon Journal 03/11/1992
The Akron Beacon Journal 12/08/1994