BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the community to locate a missing man. The man is listed as “Endangered” because he is mentally disabled and has medical issues.
Gift Bless Smith, 33, is described as being 5’5” tall, weighs 180 pounds, and has a large build. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, white shoes, and an unknown colored shirt. He also wears glasses and has slight facial hair.
According to police, Smith was reported missing at approximately 11 p.m., on Tuesday, September 2nd. His caregiver told police he was last seen between 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
The caregiver told police Smith walked away from the residence at 2403 Goodberry Place, in Brandon, and has not been seen or heard from since.
Smith is mentally disabled and is also on medication for various medical issues.
Detective Larry McKinnon said, “We have gone door-to-door, we have flyers, a detective has been assigned to the case and we are using all of the social media to help locate him. We are asking anyone who sees him to contact us.”
Detective McKinnon further stated that an option for people caring for individuals who may wonder away can be located on their website. “We call it Project Lifesaver and it’s a bracelet that the person wears that has a tracking device. We have had a lot of success with it and have actually located people within 20 minutes of them being reported missing.”
Anyone with information on Smith is asked to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200.
