Automotive, stays present in lake could also be linked to 2006 lacking particular person, police say

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (WGHP) – North Carolina police have made a possible connection in a missing persons case dating back more than 15 years.

Dedrick Bernard Smith, 26, was reported missing on October 4, 2006, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department. His last known contact with anyone was during a telephone conversation earlier that day.

“The investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Smith has continued over the years, but no useful leads have been developed as to his disappearance,” police wrote in an incident alert this week.

All that changed on Friday when Winston-Salem police were contacted by a search and recovery team called “Adventures With Purpose,” who claimed they may have found what they believed was Smith’s Pontiac Grand Am was from 1993. The car being driven by Smith at the time of his disappearance was submerged in Winston Lake.

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Winston-Salem detectives and divers from Adventures With Purpose worked together to tow the Pontiac out of Winston Lake on the morning of April 2. The Pontiac was positively identified as the car that had been driven by Smith.

Remains were also found in the vehicle. Officials will work to identify the remains and determine a cause of death in the coming days, police said.

Smith’s next of kin were notified of the discovery.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at (336) 773-7700 or (336) 728-3904 (en Espanol) or Crime Stoppers at (336) 727 -2800 to contact . The Text-A-Tip program is available at (336) 276-1717 for those wishing to send tips, photos and videos to the Winston-Salem Police Department.