Raymond Smith missing: Man’s body found after ‘suspicious’ disappearance over multiple weeks

Homicide squad detectives investigating the disappearance of missing man Raymond Smith have found his body in bushland on the outskirts of Greenbushes. Police on Friday revealed the 68-year-old’s body was found about 5pm on Thursday. “As part of the ongoing investigation, the body of a man was located on the outskirts of Greenbushes and it has since been confirmed the deceased is Mr Smith,” a WA Police spokesman said. “Mr Smith’s family have been advised of the discovery, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause Mr Smith’s death.” The tragic discovery was made just days after police revealed they believed his disappearance was suspicious. No one had heard from Mr Smith since December 7 which police said was “out of character”. On Monday and Tuesday police, including forensic officers, searched Mr Smith’s home on Blackwood Road — Greenbushes’ main street — for any information that may help them to locate him. A number of police arrived at a home listed as belonging to Mr Smith on New Year’s Day, with forensic officers in masks and overalls regularly entering and exiting the house. A neighbour of Mr Smith, Joanne Woods, said she knew “something wasn’t right” when his front door was left open for a week. “(Mr Smith) was always very polite. He’d stop out the front, wave, say hello,” she said. “We noticed that his door was open and his vehicle was in the garage. “The door was never closed for the rest of the week, we realised then that something wasn’t right. “I was going to put in a report to the police on the Monday to do a welfare check, but somebody had his daughter’s phone number and rang her on the Sunday night. “She was here with the Bridgetown police on the Monday morning.” Ms Woods said she would remember Mr Smith as a “nice, kind guy”. “I knew that’s where he was, I knew he was dead. I knew someone had taken him,” she said. “I only knew Raymond briefly passing here and there. I’d sit on his porch, have a drink with him or have a chat. “He wouldn’t really tell you anything much. “He’d come down, he’d bring me some lemons, he wouldn’t stay, he’d just say pop some lemons were on the table or call out that some lemons are here or some avocados from the tree.” Police say the investigation is ongoing and would like to hear from anyone with information regarding the movements of Mr Smith between when he was last seen on Thursday, December 7 and when he was reported missing on Monday, December 18. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.