Cafe owner Eric Smith of Big Bear still missing after nearly two weeks

Update 10:37 p.m. June 7:Heather Smith reported on Thursday that her 54-year-old husband, Eric Smith, who had been missing since June 27, was found deceased in the forest of Big Bear. The couple owned and operated The Grind & Grill Cafe in Big Bear.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials are asking for the public’s help in searching for Eric Smith, a missing Big Bear resident who was last seen nearly two weeks ago.

The Big Bear Sheriff’s Station reported that the 54-year-old Smith was last seen at about 11 a.m. on June 27 when he walked away from his home near the 400 block of Wagon Wheel Way.

At about 9 p.m. that same day, Smith was reported missing by his family, according to sheriff’s officials, who added that Smith is considered a “critical missing person” as he has recently displayed cognitive difficulties.

Smith stands about 5-feet 9-inches, has brown hair and a heavy build. He was last seen wearing prescription glasses, a blue/gray T-shirt, a gray baseball cap, blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

Smith and his wife, Heather, are the owners of the Grind & Grill Cafe in Big Bear, located about 6-miles west of their home.

Smith’s wife and staff said he was last seen walking downhill on SR-38. He was carrying a black and red Trader Joe's bag. He left without his phone, keys and wallet.

Family, cafe staff 

On July 4, Heather Smith and the cafe staff took to Facebook to say that after Smith was reported missing, his family held out hope that he just wanted to get away for a couple of days with no cellular and other distractions.

In previous weeks, Smith had talked about needing to escape and unplug. But when he did not show up for work on Wednesday, which is out of character for him, his family sought more help, the Facebook post said.

“Since Thursday there have been searches, distribution of flyers and lots of activity on Facebook to get the word out that he is missing,” the restaurant post said. “As you can imagine, this has been devastating for Eric's family and for the restaurant's staff.”

The restaurant had to be closed Wednesday and Thursday of last week because Smith was not there to cook. In the upcoming weeks, the cafe might have more odd hours and closures because of the situation, they said.

Anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Eric Smith is asked by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to contact Deputy J. Kozyr or Detective A. Montbriand at 909-866-0100 or by email at amontbriand@sbcsd.org

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Cafe owner Eric Smith of Big Bear still missing