Nearly 25 years later, Almond Gene Little's family is still searching for answers

HOUSTON – Nearly 25 years have passed since Lovetta Smith's father, Almond Gene Little, disappeared in October 1999, and yet the search for answers continues.

Gene has been declared legally deceased, but Lovetta continues to search for answers and closure on his disappearance.

In a deeply moving 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 father disappeared in 1999. He had a son, who was murdered in 1996 on my oldest daughter's birthday,” Lovetta said. “My brother, before he was murdered, told me that dad had stolen drugs from him. He said a guy threatened him if he didn't bring in the money. Sure enough, he couldn't come up with such a large sum, and the guy carried out his threat.

As she ponders the possible reasons for her father's disappearance, Lovetta returns to a particular conversation with her father.

“My father said later, before he disappeared, that this guy had also threatened him. It's very likely that the guy also came back for my father,” she shared. “He started talking about being burned, then he disappeared. We haven't heard anything since.”

Lovetta said she forgives her father for what he did to her and her brother.

“It took up half my life and kind of ruined some of the things I used to do, affecting my ability to continue a normal aspect of life,” she explained.

Their family's relationship with Gene was marked by his occasional absences for weeks at a time, which was not unusual. Due to his lifestyle, he often left his home and immersed himself in street life.

“The emotions that followed started because I was repeatedly asked why it took me so long to report him missing. First, he had a wife. Speaking emotionally about his disappearance, it started with fear, as if whoever held him might come for me. We had to continue living. Then I felt denial, refusing to accept that he was no longer with us on Earth,” Lovetta recalled.

“I told people, ‘You know what Dad was like; he would leave and stay with people, so maybe he did. It also caused anxiety. It was a variety of emotions. At first, I was angry, embarrassed and humiliated to tell this story.

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His book, Dear daddy, delves into his father's story and is available on Amazon. His Lost Sheep ministry, serving the homeless in inner-city Houston, honors his father's struggle with homelessness and drug addiction.

“I worked with a detective and had my father declared deceased in 2021,” Lovetta said. “I wrote a book about it, Dear daddy, which was a form of healing for me. It's not a 100% cure, but it's definitely progress.

Despite the emotional toll, Lovetta 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 Rep. Alma Allen for legislation to help families of missing people recover their financial costs.

“I contacted 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 situation and ensure they receive adequate compensation. Even with Texas felony compensation, they denied the amount I requested to memorialize my father and cover counseling. You can never put a price on pain and suffering,” she said. “I told them we need a law for people facing these kinds of situations because a lot of times we rely on HPD, but they don't work these cases as diligently as their members do. family.”

The last time anyone remembers seeing Gene was in October 1999, and he was known to frequent the Acres Homes neighborhood of Houston. Lovetta continues to seek advice and remains active in her community, sharing her story in hopes of finding answers.

“If anyone knows what happened to my father, please come forward. We deserve to know,” she pleaded.

Almond is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs approximately 200 pounds, with gray and black hair and brown eyes. Describing her father, Lovetta said: “He was an excellent cook and loved spending time with family. Despite his difficulties, 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 mixture of fear, denial and anger. “It was overwhelming,” she admitted. “I've tried to make the best of it with my awareness work and my book, but the pain is still there. »

Lovetta is also looking to turn her father's story into a film to reach a wider audience and potentially find more leads.

“I am reaching out to film producers to share this moving story,” she said. “It is 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 researching it and any information could bring us closer to the conclusion. »

As Lovetta continues her search for answers and healing, her resilience and dedication are an inspiration to many. The journey is far from over, but she remains hopeful and determined to discover the truth.

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