Dad: Some responding to billboard ad about son’s death

By Lance Griffin

Published: July 18, 2008

The big white billboard on the east side of Ross Clark Circle doesn’t advertise a business or an event.

It isn’t a public service announcement warning everyone about the dangers of drugs or of driving drunk.

This is a billboard about a teen’s death.

A larger than life picture of Zachary Smith anchors the left side of the billboard. Next to him are the words no father would ever want to have to put on a billboard.

“God knows who hanged Zach at Eastgate Park. Do you know?”

It’s been almost two years since workers at Eastgate Park found Paul Smith’s son dead, hanging from a rope and belt.

Police said they were unable to uncover any evidence of foul play. Everything pointed to suicide — no sign of a struggle, anywhere . The coroner concurred.

Since then, police say nothing has come to their attention to call those findings into question.

“We have nothing to change the results of our findings,” said Dothan Police Capt. Larry Draughon. “We have received no new information from Crimestoppers or any other source. The Department of Justice reviewed this case and agreed with our findings.”

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, 33 people between the ages of 15 and 19 died by suicide in Alabama in 2006. Six were black males.

But Paul Smith was never convinced. First, there was the odd location, more than eight miles away from home. Second, Zach’s car was found at his brother’s home in Dothan and no one knows how he got to the park. Third, Smith said there was no real closure. He said police showed him a photo of Zach for identification purposes, but that he did not get to see his son where he died. Finally, Smith said Zach showed no indication of being unhappy or depressed in the days leading up to his death.

Smith believes his son was murdered. He doesn’t know who, or why, but he believes somebody knows. That’s why, almost two years later, he is seeking answers from the community via the billboard. The billboard space has been donated by Durden Outdoor.

Smith said the billboard has yielded some calls, but he did not want to elaborate now.

“There are some things popping up, but now is not the time to let it all out. It’s like a puzzle,” Smith said.