Crime & Safety
Manhunt Continues For Orland Park Man Wanted For Child Solicitation
Connor Smith, 33, allegedly sent sexually explicit images and videos of himself to an undercover agent posing as a young girl in 2023.
LAKE COUNTY, IL — One year later, a manhunt continues for an Orland Park man wanted for child solicitation, after authorities say he arranged online to meet a young girl for a sexual encounter unaware that he had been communicating with an undercover agent.
Police say Connor Smith, 33, of the 8200 block of Hillcrest Drive, was sending sexually explicit images and videos of himself to the undercover agent posing as a young girl under the age of 15 for several weeks.
On Feb. 9 2023, officials say Smith drove to meet the girl for the arranged sexual encounter, but fled in his vehicle as police closed in. The next day, a nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Smith on charges of traveling to meet a minor, grooming and disseminating harmful material. The investigation was led by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, in collaboration with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
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Smith failed to turn himself in as he claimed he would, and has been on the run since. He was reportedly last seen in southern Florida, where family resides, Fox 32 Chicago reported Monday. He is distinctively tall at 6 feet, 8 inches, and was bearded at the time of the initial chase.
In a previous incident, Smith was arrested in December 2021, after police said that he met a 16-year-old girl online and arranged to meet her at an Indiana hotel. Court records showed that once at the hotel, police said that Smith — who once appeared on an MTV reality show — raped the girl, which led to him being criminally charged.
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However, charges were dropped against Smith in September 2022, after officials said the victim who originally met up with Smith stopped cooperating with law enforcement officials. Days later, Smith issued a statement through his attorney saying how dramatically the charges and rape allegations had affected his life.
Anyone who has seen Smith or has any information on where he is urged to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 847-377-4000.
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