HOUSTON – Nearly 25 years have passed since Lovetta Smith’s father, Almond Gene Little, went missing in Oct. of 1999, yet the search for answers continues.
Gene was declared lawfully deceased, but Lovetta continues to seek answers and closure regarding his disappearance.
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In a deeply emotional interview, Lovetta recounts the painful journey of her father’s disappearance.
“It’s been emotional, but I’m trying to get through it,” she said. “My dad disappeared in 1999. He had a son, who was murdered in 1996 on my oldest daughter’s birthday,” Lovetta shared. “My brother, before he was murdered, told me that Dad stole drugs from him. He said a guy threatened him if he didn’t come up with the money. Sure enough, he couldn’t come up with the large amount, and the guy followed through on the threat.”
As she delves into the possible reasons behind her father’s disappearance, Lovetta goes back to a particular conversation with her father.
“My father later said, before he disappeared, that the guy had threatened him too. It’s a strong possibility that the guy came back for my dad as well,” she shared. “He started talking about being burned up, and then he vanished. We haven’t heard anything since.”
Lovetta said she forgives her dad for what he did, both to her and her brother.
“This took up half of my life and kind of ruined some things I had going on before, affecting my ability to proceed in a normal aspect of life,” she shared.
Their family’s relationship with Gene was marked by his occasional absences for weeks at a time, which were not unusual. Due to his lifestyle, he would often leave home and immerse himself in street life.
“The emotions that come with this started because I was repeatedly asked why it took me so long to report him missing. Number one, he had a wife. Speaking emotionally about his disappearance, it began with fear—like whoever had him could come for me. We had to continue with life. Next, I felt denial, refusing to accept that he might no longer be with us on Earth,” Lovetta recalled.
“I would tell people, ‘You know how Dad was; he would go off and stay with people, so maybe he did.’ This also caused anxiety. It was a variety of emotions. I was angry, embarrassed, and humiliated to tell the story at first.”
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Her book, Dear Dad, delves into her father’s story and is available on Amazon. Her Lost Sheep Ministry, serving Houston’s downtown homeless, honors her father’s struggle with homelessness and addiction.
“I’ve been working with a detective and had my father declared deceased in 2021,” Lovetta said. “I wrote a book about it, Dear Dad, which was a form of healing for me. It’s not 100% healing, but it’s definitely progress.”
Despite the emotional toll, Lovetta has turned her pain into a mission to help others. Through Lost Sheep Ministry, she serves the homeless in Houston, providing them with both physical and spiritual nourishment.
“This work is part of my healing process,” she said. “It’s not complete closure, but it helps.”
Lovetta is advocating alongside State Representative Alma Allen for legislation aimed at helping families of missing persons recover financial costs.
“I reached out to a representative, and they called me back a few days ago, trying to see if we could establish a law to help families deal with this and ensure they receive proper compensation. Even with the Texas crime compensation, they denied the amount I requested to memorialize my dad and cover counseling. You can never put a price on pain and suffering,” she said. “I told them we need a law for people dealing with this kind of situation because, often, we rely on HPD, but they’re not working these cases as diligently as the family members are.”
The last time anyone remembers seeing Gene was in October 1999, and he was known to frequent the Acres Homes area of Houston. Lovetta continues to seek counseling and remains active in her community, sharing her story in the hope of finding answers.
“If anyone knows what happened to my father, please come forward. We deserve to know,” she pleaded.
Almond is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing around 200 pounds, with grey and black hair and brown eyes. Describing her father, Lovetta said, “He was a great cook and loved to spend time with family. Despite his struggles, he always tried to be there for us. When he was around, he made holidays like Thanksgiving special.”
Reflecting on the emotional journey, Lovetta expressed a mix of fear, denial, and anger. “It’s been overwhelming,” she admitted. “I’ve tried to make the best of it with my outreach work and my book, but the pain is still there.”
Lovetta is also seeking to turn her father’s story into a film to reach a wider audience and potentially find more leads.
“I’m reaching out to movie producers to share this emotional story,” she said. “It’s important to keep his memory alive and continue the search for answers.”
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Lovetta’s message to those with information is clear: “Please contact the Houston Police Department or someone who can help. We are still searching for him, and any information could bring us closer to closure.”
As Lovetta continues her search for answers and healing, her resilience and dedication serve as an inspiration to many. The journey is far from over, but she remains hopeful and committed to finding the truth.
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