Questions remain over disappearance of Air Force veteran Jared Chavis

Six years have passed since Jared Chavis disappeared on January 12, 2018, under mysterious circumstances, leaving his family searching for answers.

The 19-year-old was last seen in the 9000 block of Westheimer in Houston, getting into the backseat of a black Ford Fusion. Witnesses reported that an argument ensued, followed by gunfire, but Jared never exited the vehicle. His abandoned car was discovered at a nearby apartment complex, leaving unanswered questions.

Trying to piece together Jared’s disappearance was frustrating for his father, Willie Smith. These circumstances paint a grim picture, leaving Jared’s family fearing the worst. Their quest for the truth is met with challenges, including conflicting accounts from Jared’s acquaintances and the family’s feeling that law enforcement has been reluctant rather than actively pursuing the case.

After conflicting reports from Jared’s friends, it was then explained to Willie that the car may have been involved in a theft and that was the reason Jared might be missing. Willie believes Jared wouldn’t intentionally abandon his car, especially after the police told his family Jared was supposedly on the run.

“If he was on the run, why would he leave his car? He probably would have come back to Louisiana,” Willie said. “I always say he would have told his mom. Jared would have called his mom and told her what was going on.

Two weeks later, Jared’s credit card was used at a store. Willie attempted to obtain surveillance footage, but was unsuccessful. By the time police tried to obtain the footage a month later, it had already been deleted.

After initially treating the case with skepticism, HPD ultimately classified it as a homicide.

Willie said the way HPD handled Jared’s case was mind-boggling.

“What made me so angry with them was the amount of information I was able to get and pass on to them. I was getting information myself to relay what was going on, as one of the suspects involved, I found out where he was staying and that he had moved back to Austin,” Willie explained. “At that time, I was becoming a danger to myself because I didn’t know what I would have done to those guys at that time. (HPD) told me to let them do their job. But if they had looked into the credit card issue and found out who was using that card, that would have been a big help.

Originally from Louisiana, Jared had recently moved to Houston to live with a cousin, pursuing a career installing satellite dishes while studying online information technology.

Trying to figure out what happened to his son has been mentally exhausting at times.

“It was very hard. My daughter was 13 when he disappeared and it affects her, me and all of us. It’s not an easy situation. I remember being in Houston the first week this happened and it was cold as we looked in the trash. I pray that I don’t see him but at the same time I want to find him,” Willie explained. “It took a toll on me mentally. I thank God that I was able to keep everything together.

Jared’s son was born after his disappearance and Willie emphasized how much of a blessing his birth was in their lives.

“We talk to him a lot on Facetime. He called us the other day and told us he was sad. We were like, “Why are you sad?” » and he said “I want to meet my father, I never had the chance to meet my father.” When he tells me this as a grandfather, I still have no answers to give him. And that’s what I’m looking for, answers,” Willie explained. “I still don’t have the answers to what really happened to Jared. I know he is no longer with us. But just to be able to tell him what happened to his father. I tell him his daddy is in heaven watching over him.

Despite the passage of time, Jared’s family refuses to give up their search for a way out.

“Jared was very, very intelligent. He was an honor graduate of his high school and played football. After leaving high school, he joined the Air Force. He was granted a general discharge from the Air Force and that’s when he moved to Houston to study computer science and work. He would go to work, call his mother and not do much. He had one of those old souls. He would sit and talk with older people and just connect with them. He was a great kid in every way. And then that evening, he went out with friends and it cost him his life.

Willie expressed his need for answers from the people who were with Jared the night he disappeared. He pointed out that everyone involved will eventually have children, including Jared, and that the situation has deeply affected Jared’s entire family.

“I don’t know what happened that night, but whatever happened that night, we need answers.” For no one to come forward and say what you did or what happened to Jared, they have to be a monster to do that. I believe in God and I believe in karma,” he said. “It’s been six years now and all we want is answers or closure.”

With a $10,000 reward offered by Crime Stoppers, they are pleading with anyone with information to come forward and help solve the mystery surrounding Jared’s disappearance. For those with information, please contact the Houston Police Department at 832-394-1840.

Missing in Houston is a weekly column highlighting missing people in the Houston area. If your loved one is missing an email [email protected].