Family hoping for answers in mother's disappearance

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

DEL CITY, Okla. -- The family of a missing Del City mother is hoping for a break in the case this weekend as a special team begins their search for answers.

It's been over two weeks since anyone has seen or heard from Nakketa Smith. Police believe foul play is involved in her disappearance.

The family took it upon themselves to search for Naketta, but when they ran out of places to look, the Texas EquuSearch and Recovery Organization stepped in.

A team of volunteers began a search through a wooded area in Del City Saturday morning. They are looking for items that were taken from Nakketa's home and possibly the missing 31-year-old mother.

EquuSearch has been on more than 900 missing person cases. Volunteers said they have a pretty good track record when it comes to finding missing people.

"Probably 75 percent of the time or more," volunteer Lacey Edwards said.

Lacey Edwards doesn't know Nakketa or her family, but felt compelled to help.

"I hope it's today, I really do. I want to give them closure," Edwards said. "I'd want it."

EquuSearch sent an aircraft over Del City to pin point search areas on Friday, but searching those areas on foot is harder than it looks.

"We're going through grass taller than I am, going over stumps and broken down trees," Edwards said. "There's all kinds of obstacles out here."

When volunteers can't get through tall grass and brush, EquuSearch brings in the four-legged kind of help. The volunteers plan to look all weekend.

As the search continues throughout Del City, others help at the command post, waiting for answers and holding on to hope.

EquuSearch also sent a dive team to Lake Stanley Draper. They have sonar equipment to search the waters.

"The family is just looking for closure. The main thing right now is to find her whereabouts and then closure, whatever that may be," family friend Samuel Brooks said.