CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – Tonita Lorice “Nita” Smith, 39, of Charlottesville, whose body was discovered in Harrisonburg on Wed, Nov 25, was the aunt of Sage Smith, who went missing in Nov of 2012.
“This family’s not a stranger to tragedy, unfortunately,” says family friend Kimberly, who asked only her first name be used. “There is the trauma associated with the tragedy of family members being gone in a way that we wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
Nita Smith’s death leaves her family with many questions. Her body was found not far from the body of a second woman in a vacant lot located near the junction of Route 33 and Interstate 81 in Harrisonburg. According to the Harrisonburg Police Department, Smith and Elizabeth Redmon, 54, of Harrisonburg died at different times. Their bodies are now at the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the times and causes of death.
Kimberly has helped set up a GoFundMe account to cover the cost of Nita Smith’s funeral.
“This is just not an expense that anyone was prepared for,” she says.
Anthony Robinson, 35, of Washington, D.C., as been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two felony counts of concealing a dead body.
