A woman dedicated over 20 years to find her missing father, only to uncover that he had been laid to rest close to her residence. Lovetta Little-Smith, aged 55 and a certified nursing assistant in Houston, had been searching for her father, Almond Gene Little, who disappeared in 1999. The search intensified in 2021 with media coverage, billboards, and support from the Texas Center for the Missing.
Recently, detectives confirmed the identity of her father after examining old cemetery records, revealing that he had passed away a year after he went missing. Lovetta now aims to assist other families of missing individuals and encourages them to maintain hope.
“In 1999, I last saw Almond Gene Little, my dad, in Houston, Texas,” Lovetta shared. “He disappeared, and our family began the search for him.” The challenging journey began when Lovetta was 30 years old, and she only reported her father missing in 2011 due to the complexities surrounding his disappearance.
With the help of the Texas Center for the Missing in Houston, Lovetta’s efforts gained momentum, garnering media attention and community support. She even wrote a book titled “Dear Dad” to express her emotions and document the years her father had been absent from her life.
Following leads from the Missing Persons unit in November, Lovetta received confirmation about her father’s fate. Little had passed away on September 4, 2000, in Houston, just a year after his family’s last contact with him.
During her search, Lovetta received information from neighbors that aligned with details about her father’s hospitalization and subsequent death. She continues to await the death certificate for more insights. Lovetta’s connection with her father was significant, despite the complexities in their relationship.
Tragedy struck the family earlier when Lovetta’s brother was killed in a home invasion in 1996. The prolonged search for her father took a toll on Lovetta and her family, causing emotional distress and anxiety.
This month, Lovetta and her family held a memorial for her father, where she brought a cherished gift from him—a Winnie bear. She remains resolute in supporting other families facing similar situations and is committed to collaborating with the Texas Center for the Missing to offer assistance and hope to those in need.