Police Continue Searching for Remains of Enterprise Woman Ayanna “Nneka” Smith

ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WDHN) — Enterprise Police continued to search the area of Huey Street and Warren Road for the remains of Ayanna Smith, who was murdered in 2017.

At the time, her estranged boyfriend, Malcolm Hunter, was arrested for her murder. Smith left behind two children and worked two jobs.

“It’s been devastating that I haven’t been able to talk to my daughter, we talked all the time, and we were very clos, real close. And it’s just been devastating for me, like every day,” said her father, Johnny Smith.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and police dogs joined local police in the search.

Police and other law enforcement agencies originally started searching the area of Huey Street and Warren Road on Friday afternoon.

They combed a wooded area in a residential neighborhood, closing the search area off with yellow tape.

But as of this afternoon, the search has yielded no remains.

The break in the case follows Smith’s killing on Jan. 21, 2017, at her apartment on Brunson street.

On that night, neighbors reported hearing a gunshot. Hunter was arrested and charged in her killing, despite no body being found.

Hunter was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2018.

In those seven years since her killing, friends and loved ones hope they can finally find smith’s remains so she can be honored properly.

“You know people say, you know, you get closure, but there will never be closure because she will never be back here.”

Police will continue to search the area for her remains.

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