Laura Recovery Center

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The Laura Recovery Center is a foundation designed to foster communication between law enforcement, families, and local communities in their efforts to recover lost and abducted children. The center was founded by Bob and Gay Smither in response to the murder of their daughter Laura Kate Smither (April 23, 1984 - April 3, 1997).

Laura was kidnapped near her Friendswood, Texas, home on April 3, 1997 while she was jogging. A volunteer ground search, which consisted of more than 6,000 volunteers and covered over 800 square miles (2,000 km²), was organized by her community. The search for Laura quickly spread across the nation. Her murdered body was discovered April 20 in a regional water retention pond 10 miles from her home.