In a shocking turn of events, the long-cold case of Blake Chappell has erupted back into the public eye following the arrest of a suspect nearly 14 years after the teenager’s tragic disappearance. Blake, a 17-year-old high school student, vanished in October 2011 after attending a homecoming dance. His body was discovered two months later, face down in a creek in Noonan, Georgia, with a single gunshot wound to the head.
The timeline of Blake’s disappearance reveals a series of chilling events. On the night of October 15, 2011, Blake attended the homecoming dance with his girlfriend. After the event, he was dropped off at a friend’s house, during which he called his mother to express how much he enjoyed the evening. However, around 2:00 a.m., Blake set out on a three-mile walk back to his girlfriend’s home and sent two final text messages before vanishing. The first mentioned an encounter with a police officer, although local police have no record of such a stop, and the second was a complaint about the cold. After that, there were no more communications, and for two agonizing months, his family searched for him.
On December 19, 2011, a passerby discovered Blake’s body in the creek, but the investigation quickly became complicated. Initially treated as a runaway case, investigators later faced the grim reality that a crime had occurred. Blake had a tumultuous relationship with a girl, which raised questions about potential motives in his murder. Furthermore, he had faced legal troubles prior to his disappearance related to that relationship, which complicated the investigation.
Detectives pursued various leads over the years but cleared several individuals, including Blake’s ex-girlfriend and her family, without making any arrests. As tips dwindled, the case seemed to stall, until 2023, when police made a public plea for information, particularly aimed at an anonymous tipster who had previously sent letters suggesting knowledge of the case. This renewed interest in the case would eventually lead to a breakthrough.
In September 2025, law enforcement arrested 38-year-old Scotty Elliot Smith, who allegedly confessed to the murder of Blake Chappell. Smith had not been on investigators’ radar until a new lead pointed to him, and while the specifics of this lead have not been disclosed, it is believed to be connected to the earlier anonymous letters. At the time of Blake’s murder, Smith was 24 years old and had a limited criminal history, but his record had since expanded to include multiple charges ranging from aggressive driving to battery.
Now facing serious charges, including felony murder and aggravated assault, Smith’s arrest marks a significant development in a case that has haunted Blake’s family for over a decade. Notably absent from the charges, however, are any related to sexual assault, despite speculation regarding the circumstances of Blake’s death. Prosecutors have not indicated whether they possess the evidence necessary to support such charges, leaving many questions unanswered.
As this case continues to unfold, the community remains engaged and hopeful for justice for Blake Chappell. Further developments are expected as the investigation progresses, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward. The shocking arrest of Scotty Smith has reignited interest in a case that many thought was lost to time, bringing a glimmer of hope to a grieving family longing for closure.
