Robb Simmons, fiance of Shantina Smiley, Still Seeks Answers

• Missing Washington Woman,  Shantina Smiley, honored in Brinnon Memorial Service April 17
• No Clues in Case of Missing WA Mom, son :  Shantina Smiley and Azriel Carver  
• Autopsy Confims WA boy,  Azriel Carver, 8,   died of accidental drowning 

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Shantina and her son, Azriel

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Fiance Robb Simmons still holding out hope 

Robert Simmons, the fiance of Shantina Marie Smiley, 29, who vanished with her 8 year old son the weekend of March 13 while on a road trip to visit relatives in Castlerock, Washington, has told an Examiner.com journalist that he believes "something just does not smell right' in the case of her disappearance. The disappearance of Smiley and her young son captured national media attention during the first 72 hours of their vanishing.

Simmons, 39, of Silverdale, held a memorial service for Smiley at the Brinnon Community Church on April 17, to honor her memory, but said it was a difficult thing to do with no real closure, and few answers from law enforcement.

Smiley's young son, 8 year old Azriel James Carver, was found washed ashore from Puget Sound, outside of Olympia, Washington, on the southern tip of Fox Island below a steep bluff,  on March 18. Smiley's body has not been found.

A mysterious vanishing

Pierce County Medical examiners officially ruled the boy's death "an accidental drowning". Thurston County law enforcement officials also claimed that the minivan driven by Smiley, a 2005 Dodge Caravan which was found partly submerged near Dana Passage on Fishtrap beach, showed "no evidence of a crime scene" or any foul play.

The beach belongs to a  community of private homes, and can only be accessed with a vehicle,  by driving down a steep and narrow trail which law enforcement said is barely visible, even in daylight.  

Air and water searches were conducted the week of the disappearance.

Mother and son were captured in their movements the day they vanished, at various convenience stores and diners, on surveillance cameras at the locations. Smiley was said to be a recovering alcoholic who may have relapsed.

Trouble was reported in Smiley's past, including incidents involving a DUI and investigations facilitated by Child Protective Services. But her fiance and members of her family asserted in statements to media, that she had recently graduated from Olympic College with honors, had a new career in medical coding, and was active in scouts with her fiance Robert, and their respective sons. She was looking forward to married life with Simmons, and had bonded well with his children, particularly 15 year old daughter Nicky, who called Smiley her "mom".

There have been no named suspects or persons of interest in the Smiley disappearance case.

From Mr. Simmons' interview with Seattle Headlines Examiner journalist Isabelle Zehnder,  April 19,  2010:

However,  Lt. Chris Mealy of Thurston County law enforcement has stated:

"We believe that she was at the Gull Harbor Mercantile at about 10:35 that evening, and we have very good information that the van was at the beach at 11 o'clock that night so given the drive time and stuff there's not a lot of time that anything criminal could have happened to her."  (Link to video here)

Members of the Thurston County Sheriff's Office are said to be working with divers and members of law enforcement in the area in an attempt to recover Smiley's body from the waters of Puget Sound, where she is presumed to have drowned with her son on March 13.

Questions have arisen concerning items that were assumed to have washed to shore on March 17, which belonged to Smiley. Chief Deputy Chamberlain,  who leads the investigation, says he now believes it is more likely the items had been carried in a "backpack" and dropped at the location, due to their different weights.

Mr. Simmons said he is still seeking answers and closure in the case, and is trying to help his children, Nicky, 15, and DJ, 11, to keep busy and maintain some sense of well-being.