A Rabbit’s Tale – May 14, 2009

Little Miss X
by Cheryle Hoover Davis

Happily posting on my blog, The Graveyard Rabbit of Northern Arizona, documenting some of the headstones and information I have found at our local cemetery, there was nary a thought of becoming involved in something like this! But, because of this blog, I am.

I'm helping to work on a cold case file. The mystery began in the early 1950's.

My part in this mystery comes about because of my blog: The Graveyard Rabbit of Northern Arizona. A long-time case researcher, was searching the Internet and found my blog. She was even more amazed that she found someone with a link to the cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona! Her amazement turned to excitement when she emailed me, told me the story, and asked if I'd be willing to try to find the whereabouts of Little Miss X.

Of course, I said YES.

Connie Smith
Is She Little Miss X?

On the morning of July 16, 1952, 10-year-old Connie Smith walked away from a YMCA camp near Salisbury, Connecticut. She was never seen again.

Connie's grandfather was a former governor of Wyoming, and her parents were divorced at the time of her disappearance. Her father lived in Wyoming, where Connie was raised. Her mother was visiting her family in Connecticut and so Connie went to summer camp there.

The story has many factors, and many people have searched for Connie over the years. They are still searching, although there is not much hope that she is alive.

In fact, she may just be “Little Miss X.”

In 1958, a young girl’s remains were found near the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Police were never able to identify her, and named her “Little Miss X.” A week later, road graders found items of clothing and a piece of jewelry (which are also missing today) nearby, which is believed to belong to Little Miss X. Little Miss X's remains awaited identification.

In 1962, a letter received by the Connecticut State Police claimed that Little Miss X was Connie Smith.

Little Miss X's remains were taken to Wyoming (where her father and grandfather lived, and where Connie had lived) so that the jawbone and teeth could be compared to Connie Smith's dental records. Her dentist believed they were the same, but a second dentist's examination was inconclusive. Unidentified, Little Miss X's remains were returned to Arizona.

Connie Smith's family never gave up the search. Her mother had died in 1961, some people say of a broken heart. Since, Connie's grandfather had also died, but her father was still alive when DNA was collected from the Smith family in hopes of finding a match with Little Miss X.

Back in Arizona, no one could find the remains of Little Miss X! She was not to be found anywhere!

Her death certificate states that she was buried in Flagstaff Citizen's Cemetery, yet they have no record of her there. I went to the library in Flagstaff, and poured over the cemetery records, finding a few 'suspect' graves. Given enough evidence, the FBI will exhume these graves in hopes of matching the DNA of Connie Smith and Little Miss X.

Now, what have I been doing to help?

I've since been to the cemetery and they had her death certificate, but no record of where she may be buried.

I've been to the library and poured over cemetery records that were printed out by the city just last year.

I've walked the cemetery, examining stones, markers, and viewing the 'pauper's field'. All to no avail. I've talked, in depth, with the manager of the cemetery and he was so very willing to help, but could not locate LMX.

My next adventure is to go to Williams, Arizona, where the Under Sheriff (who took LMX's remains to Wyoming) lived in hopes that someone there will remember something. He has living relatives there. I will also visit the local Historical Society and the library to go over their newspaper archives.

Hopeful that there will be an old newspaper article about the case, or someone who still lives in the area who remembers it, I will spend a few days exploring all avenues in Williams. It's not far from here – about 30 miles, so I can easily make day trips.

Since the weather is finally warm I will be able to travel and explore! Our winters here in Flagstaff provide us with FEET of snow, so there was limited-access to highways, cemeteries and other places of travel. Just a month ago, the state highway was closed, twice, because of bad weather. This month, finally, Spring has arrived!

The case of Little Miss X and Connie Smith is yet to be resolved, but I hope to find clues that may help find the remains so they may be tested against the DNA of Connie Smith. I can be the eyes, ears, and hands here in Flagstaff that just may provide that elusive resolution!

Let's hope we can resolve, and bring closure to, this sad story of someone's child gone missing so many years ago. Their families are waiting.