North American Missing Persons Network
 
William Paul Smolinski Jr.

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Above Images: Smolinski, circa 2004

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

  • Missing Since: August 24, 2004 from Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut
  • Classification: Endangered Missing
  • Date Of Birth: January 14, 1973
  • Age: 31
  • Height: 5'11"-6'0"
  • Weight: 200 lbs.
  • Hair Color: Light Brown - crew cut
  • Eye Color: Blue
  • Race: White
  • Gender: Male
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: Pierced left ear, tattoo of a
    blue "cross" with an orange outline on left shoulder, tattoo of a
    blue "cross" with the name "Pruitt" in the cross on right forearm,
    bowlegged.
  • Clothing: Blue jeans, blue denim shirt, work boots,
    size 36 x 32 pants, size large or extra large shirts, size 10 1/2 shoes
  • Jewelry: Small diamond earring worn in left ear, rope style gold
    chain necklace with a gold "cross" pendant.
  • AKA: "Bill", "Billy"
  • Dentals: Available. All four third molars are present and impacted.
    Radiographs available: 2BWs and 2PAs from 1/6/1997,
    and 2 BWs from 6/2/1998
  • DNA: In Codis
  • NCIC Number: M-606786078
  • Case Number: 04-71025

    • Details of Disappearance

    Smolinski was last seen on August 24, 2004 by his neighbor in Waterbury, Connecticut around 3:30 or 3:45 p.m. Billy had been upset after arguing with his girlfriend. He reportedly went to his neighbor's house and told the neighbor he needed them to care for the dog because he would be gone for three days and asked them to feed the dog who was locked inside the home. The neighbor said Billy never returned with the keys to his house so they could care for the dog and has not been heard from since.

    Smolinski deposited most of his paycheck on August 23, 2004. There has been no activity on his bank accounts.
    Billy's keys and wallet were left inside his truck which was also left behind.

    According to the police records, as of August 2004, Smolinski had been involved in a yearlong relationship with his girlfriend, a Woodbridge school bus driver for B&B Transportation. During that same period of time, the girlfriend had also been involved with another man, also a Woodbridge school bus driver and a former member of the Board of Selectmen. According to the police reports, the woman said that Smolinski broke off the relationship during the week preceding his disappearance when he learned about her relationship with the other man.

    The girlfriend admitted to tearing down Smolinski's missing person posters.

    A close friend of the woman's son, who died in February 2005, said that the son choked Smolinski to death at the woman's apartment. The body was buried at a construction site in Shelton; the grave site was covered with concrete the following day.

    The woman told the police that Smolinski "was an outdoorsman and loved to hike in the woods, and he knew how to survive in the woods."

    The investigation was taken over by the FBI in August 2006. In May 2007, police and FBI agents dug behind a home on Fort Hill Avenue in Waterbury after a private investigator uncovered a tip in the police file. The tip stated that Billy was murdered and buried on the property; however, the search did not uncover any evidence that he was located there. Additional searches were performed on other yards in the area, as well as underneath the Route 8 overpass near Wharf Street.

    There is now a $60, 000 reward for Billy's return or recovery.

    Billy's family ask that you please visit his site, Billy's Guiding Light of Hope to print a few posters and put them up in your area.

    Waterbury Chief of Police has said he suspects foul play and Smolinski's disappearance and the case is now being treated as a homicide.

    Investigating Agency
    If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
    Waterbury Police Department
    (203) 574-6941
    OR
    New Haven Connecticut FBI
    S.A. William Aldenberg
    (203) 574-6941

    Source Information
    Justice 4 Billy
    Federal Bureau of Investigation
    Namus
    WTNH-TV
    The Orange Bulletin 4/19/07
    The Connecticut Post - 5/8/07
    The New Haven Register - 5/8/07