Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAPD Asks for Help in Missing Girl Case
()
The family of 14-year-old Andrea Wilson-Smith and the LAPD are asking the public's help in finding the teen that disappeared Tuesday from the 10500 block of Saint Andrews Place in the Athens-Westmont neighborhood of South LA.
Detective Harry Lee with the 77th Division told LAist that Andrea went outside in front of her house around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday night before she disappeared. Andrea and her grandparents had just returned from Las Vegas a couple hours earlier at 8:00 p.m. and Andrea had asked for the keys to the car to get something out from the trip. A few minutes later, her grandmother went to see what was taking so long and Andrea was gone said Andrea's mother, Adrienne Wilson, over the phone to LAist as she was preparing to flier the neighborhood with information about her daughter's disappearance.
That night, the family drove around for an hour as the LAPD brought out a helicopter to look for people walking in the streets. Andrea was not found and it was presumed that she had gotten into a car.
Support for LAist comes from
Detective Lee says running away is one possibility but most runaways are constantly running away--Andrea has never done so. In fact, Andrea, who would have been entering her freshmen year yesterday, is home-schooled. "I don't know what to think. She's not a kid who ever spent a night away from home," her mother explained.
With the recent and unfortunate buzz (for years, there was not much public focus) about LA's serial killer, dubbed the Grim Sleeper, it's hard not to start thinking down that road. The 10500 block of Saint Andrew Place is not only two blocks from Western Ave., where most of the slayings have taken place, but is a few blocks from one of the slayings in the 1980s. Looking at LA MetBlogs writer David Markland's map of the slaying locations, Andrea Wilson-Smith's disappearance fits the geographical pattern. As to any leads regarding the Grim Sleeper, Det. Lee, who is not assigned to that case, said he didn't think so. "You know, anything can happen, but hopefully not."
And let's hope someone knows something that could help the police and the Wilson-Smith family find their daughter safely. Andrea is described as having black hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, white basketball shorts and black Nike tennis shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call 77th Street Detective Harry Lee at (213) 485-4156. On weekends or after hours, call the toll free 24-hour anonymous number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzOTZweCIgd2lkdGg9IjY0MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding.
-
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline.
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist