Thurston County deputies called off the search Monday for 29-year-old Shantina “Kat” Smiley of Silverdale after taking a break over the weekend, said Lt. Chris Mealy, a detective with the sheriff’s office.
The body of Azriel Carver, Smiley’s 8-year-old son, was discovered on Fox Island Thursday. His death was ruled as an accidental drowning by the Pierce County Medical Examiner. Carver was a second-grader at Vinland Elementary School in Poulsbo.
At a memorial service in Brinnon on Wednesday, Azriel was remembered by family members for his love of video games, dogs and his cat, Coco. His great-grandparents live in Brinnon.
“He was a happy-go-lucky boy with a wonderfully bright grin and made everyone who saw him smile in response to the sparkle in his eyes,” read his obituary.
Azriel and his mother went missing March 14 after the van they were driving from Silverdale to Castle Rock was found partially submerged in Budd Inlet near Olympia.
Mealy said the sheriff’s office will continue following up on leads, but the working theory is that Smiley went into the water and like her son, will be found eventually.
“We searched as much as we can search,” he said. “We’re just going to have to wait for her to resurface.”
Mealy said that he suspects Smiley willingly drove onto the beach during low tide and that she and Azriel then went into the water. He said he doesn’t know why they would get into the water, whether it was accidental or on purpose.
Mealy said there are no signs that a crime was committed.