Boone Police Find Body Near Appalachian State University Campus … Could Be Missing 18 Year Old Anna Marie Smith (Update: Boone PD Believe It Is, NC Driver’s License & APP St. ID Found)

Police in Boone, NC have found a body and are confirming that they are working to identify the body found near campus of Appalachian State University on Saturday morning. Neighbors said someone called authorities Saturday to report a suspicious odor in a heavily wooded area off Poplar Grove Road, on the west edge of the Watauga County university town.  It is believed to be that of missing 18 year old Anna Marie Smith, but there has been no official confirmation yet.  Anna Marie Smith was last seen on September 2, 2014.

UPDATE I: The family on Facebook, Find Anna Marie Smith, says “At this point we do not have confirmation that Anna was found.  I realize there are many news reports out there now, but again the family DOES NOT have confirmation.”

UPDATE II: But …   The Watauga Democrat is reporting that according to area law enforcement, the body of missing student Anna Smith was found Saturday morning in a wooded area off of Poplar Grove Road.

Scanner traffic also indicated that a body had been found in the Poplar Grove Road area. Boone Police vehicles blocked a section of Poplar Grove Road and redirected traffic at the intersections with Bodenheimer Drive and Water Street.

At 11:54 a.m., however, Boone Police Sgt. Shane Robbins said he could not confirm the report at the time. At 1:43 p.m., Boone Police issued the following statement:

“At approximately 10:30 a.m., Boone Police officers responded to a report of a deceased individual located in a wooded area adjacent to Poplar Grove Road, on the west end of town. Boone Police investigators are processing the scene. The identity of the individual is unknown at this time. More information will be released when it becomes available.”

Calls and emails to university spokespersons were not immediately returned Saturday morning. Around 2:45 p.m. ASU posted the following message on its Facebook page from Chancellor Sheri N. Everts:

“Dear members of the Appalachian community, I am deeply saddened to share that the Boone Police Department has confirmed that a body was discovered mid-morning (Sept. 13) at an off-campus location in Boone. The town of Boone and State Bureau of Investigation are in charge of the investigation. While the media is reporting that it might be the body of missing freshman Anna M. Smith, the investigating agencies have not made an identification. As more developments take place, we will send you further updates. I ask that you keep in mind this is an incredibly difficult time for Anna’s family, and keep their wellbeing foremost in your thoughts.”

UPDATE III: Police believe body found in Boone is missing Anna Smith.

The Boone Police Department believes a body found in a wooded area in the western section of the town Saturday is missing 18-year-old High Point student Anna Smith.

The Boone police said late this afternoon that “Initial evidence located at the scene indicates that the deceased is Anna M. Smith.”

A North Carolina driver’s license and an Appalachian State University student Identification card belonging to Smith were found at the scene.

A State Medical Examiner is at the location of the body. The body will be transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for an autopsy, according to police.

UPDATE IV: Police Confirm the Body of missing ASU student found near campus.

Police in Boone have confirmed the body found around this morning near the Appalachian State University campus is that of missing student Anna Smith.

Police responded to a report of a deceased individual in the woods near Poplar Grove Rd. at around 10:30 Saturday morning. An ASU identification card and a North Carolina driver’s license belonging to Smith were found at the scene.

The cause of death was not immediately available, but Boone Police said an autopsy at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem will yield more information.