Monday, February 5, 2018

Bates' Classmate Missing in Knoxville

We hope you all had a fantastic weekend, whether you watched the Super Bowl or spent your Sunday doing other things. Yesterday, we received troubling news about a student at Crown College, the school that many of the Bates siblings either attend or have attended. We ask you to join us in earnet prayer.

Blake Smith, a 20-year-old student at Crown, has been missing since Saturday afternoon, when he was last seen leaving work. From there, he returned to his dorm room for a short time and then headed out to Admiral Farragut Park, where his parents say he was likely taking a hike. Blake posted a photo of the Tennessee River to his social media page, making that his last known location.

Later, his car, cell phone, and some of his belongings were found at a construction site in Blount County, where Zach Bates attended the police training academy.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Blake's family suspects foul play. A missing persons Facebook page has been created to provide updates. Those with any information should contact the Knoxville police at 865-215-7000.

44 comments:

  1. Oh I can't imagine how frightening that is for Blake's family. I will pray for his safe return. Thank you Lily and Ellie for letting us know and please, if you receive any updates, please let us know. I'm going to put Blake's name on my prayer wall right now!

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  2. My prayers are going out for the Blake and his family and friends.

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  3. I have been praying and will continue to pray. It is such a scary situation. As a mom with a son away at college, I can only imagine what his parents and family members are going through.

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  4. Prayers for you and the family. So sorry. We hope for good news.

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  5. Friends on Facebook have been sharing this story, and I'm praying for them. Makes me sick to my stomach to think about what they're going through.

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  6. This is very disturbing. My sister went to Crown last semester and knew him, also.

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  7. Praying for his safe return and for his family.

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  8. Oh no.praying! I feel like we are so many more missing persons these days!😢

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  9. Oh sorry to hear that. No parent ever want their kids missing.So the Smith parents we hope & Pray their son come out of this alive Blake. Time 2:52PM

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  10. They just found a body in the lake near where his car was found. Pray for the family and friends of this young man.

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  11. Prayers for him and family. 😢

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  12. Sending prayers for his safety

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  13. The body was found in a creek near the place where they found his car.
    His friends confirmed it was him, but they aren't officially stating that it's him until after the autopsy tomorrow. Please keep the Smith family in your prayers as they come to realize what has happened.

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    1. It is so sad. I have a relative at Crown College. She knew Blake and said that he was such a nice young man. We need to pray for his family and the students at Crown College. This situation is devastating.

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  14. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and I am hoping he will be brought home soon without injury.

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  15. Oh, no! I pray he comes home soon, safe and sound and I pray his family had peace knowing that God is watching over him and is in control! I will share with my friends who love you family and watch your show like I do. You all are so uplifting, Godly, funny and so imaginative and playful!
    I didn't have a family like that and it amazes me to watch you and the Duggars. You teach me many things and I'm 62!! I love you and will continue to pray with you for our lost brother and his family! God bless you and look forward to the new show starting!! Love from Interlachen, FL too, the home of Anna Duggar who is so special to me, her whole family too! Thank you for sharing this post with us, the
    more prayers the better!! <3

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  16. Praying for this family!

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  17. Oh no!!
    I will tell my family and friends to pray!

    C.L.S

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  18. I am praying for the entire family and community -
    may they find peace through prayer.

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  19. Praying!
    Can someone please explain what "foul play" is??

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    1. Foul play is when someone causes the harm vs. he died of a heart attack for example.

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    2. Foul play in this case means that there was likely another person involved with his death (if he is dead)and he didn't just disappear on his own.

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    3. The expression "suspect foul play" means to suspect a crime was committed. Sadly as others have posted it seems Blake has gone to his Maker, though there is no report yet as to what exactly happened, it could have been an accident.

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  20. prayers for this poor family

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  21. Please update this as more info comes in for those of us that aren't in your area.

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  22. I pray that God is with everyone here and gives peace with closure whatever the outcome is. So sorry to hear this sad news. NEVER go on a hike or out in the woods by yourself.

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  23. Praying peace & comfort for his family who devastatingly now know it was Blake found in the lake, 7 miles away from his car.

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  24. My prayers are with this young man and his family. We should also pray for our country and world evil is all around. Patricia

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  25. If you click on the link Lily and Ellie provided in the story, you will see that it is confirmed that it was Blake and he passed from hypothermia and drowning. Pray for his family and friends as they come to terms with this tragedy. Thank the Lord he knew whi held his future and he was ready to go "home".

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  26. This is so sad! As a Christian I am having a hard time that they are calling this death accidental drowning when the car was sent on its way with a cement block on the gas petal. I pray that they will be able to explain this in truth and not lies to the public. I already know non Christians who watch things like this and they can put two and two together. Please don't allow deception and cover up! The truth needs to be truth or the accidental part needs to be explained. Covering up to save God's name, churches, colleges, or just people well sorry the unsaved will see straight threw and never want to be a part of God's Family!

    I pray that the Truth will be Truth not try and cover up because of Pride! It is so sad for everyone involved. May God have a hand in all of these and bring peace to the family.

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    1. Yes, I am praying that the truth will be sought, no matter how terrible the truth may be. I live in Knoxville, and I believe we as residents deserve to know if there is a true predator on the loose. If it was a genuine case of wrong place at the wrong time, we deserve to know. If it was a hookup gone wrong, then it too needs to be exposed. No one wants a young man’s name dragged through the mud, but the details are important, as those details could potentially help others be on guard.
      There are too many factors involved that point to it not being an accident.

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    2. Sometimes, in cases such as this, information is withheld from the public so that the police investigation won’t be compromised. Once the investigation is completed, the truth of what happened will be made public.
      I don’t think this is a coverup, I think it’s an example of a carefully guarded investigation. At least I hope it is.
      My thoughts are with his family and community. Regardless of the circumstances, this is a tragic loss for all of them.

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    3. There still could have been foul play, it might not be a coverup. Regardless, his family needs our prayers😔

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    4. Your assumptions are incorrect. The police have called it accidental, while his family is saying it was not accidental. The evidence certainly seems to point to the family's telling the truth, but we don't know all the details. I'm so sad that the family has to be dealing with all of the media and police aftermath on top of losing their son.

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    5. In chapel today at Crown College, it was mentioned that there are a lot of answered questions. Why did he have bruises on his face and one hand? Why was his car found in the condition it was in? Why did he drown in a shallow pond? They stated that the police are still investigating. Please pray that they are able to find out what happened, and the police don't just accept that it was accidental.

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  27. I just now read the updated news report and sadly, the body recovered was that of Blake. His family is going to need people praying for them as they get through this terrible time. My heart is breaking for his family.

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  28. Sadly, it has been confirmed that the body found was that of Blake. Very sad day indeed. My condolences to his family 'Truly, our life is short'.

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  29. As was stated in an earlier comment, his body was found. Prayers should go out to his family as they deal with this tragedy.

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  30. You should make another post updating readers on this situation. He has been found dead.

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  31. Lord help this poor family my prayers are for you

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  32. Have they found him yet? Please keep us updated. Praying for the family

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  33. Did they find out if foul play due to the condition people said about the car pedals and bruised body? PRAYING for the SUFFERING you are enduring as family and friends. Great GRACE and Peace to you all. Our deepest condolences and sympathy with you always. God Bless.

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