HENRICO COUNTY, Va (WTVR) - The Charlottesville Police Department received an anonymous $10,000 donation to go up as a reward for information into the disappearance of Dashad "Sage" Smith. Police are also asking for information in locating Erik McFadden, a person of interest in the investigation.
Smith, a Charlottesville teen, has been missing for nearly a month.
Smith, 19, was last seen on West Main Street in Charlottesville at the end of November. The search for him has stretched nearly 70 miles to a landfill in Henrico County.
"I hope they find Dashad, whether it's him or evidence of anything that was thrown away," Smith's mother Latasha Grooms said.
Charlottesville Police are moving forward, trying to dig up evidence that could help them find Smith.
"We've been continually working the investigation, since the case was brought to our attention," Charlottesville Lt. Ronnie Roberts said. "We're just checking every aspect of any evidence that could be beneficial to our investigation."
Workers were out again Tuesday morning searching an area of the landfill. But with such a large area to cover Smith's mother has little confidence of a happy ending.
"I will say that I'm losing hope, but there's still a chance of something," Smith said.
Dashad Smith is described as 5'11" and weighing 130 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark grey sweat pants, black scarf and grey boots.
Police and family said Smith occasionally wore women’s clothes and went by the name Sage.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000.
