THE daughter of missing mum Khasha Smith had made a heartbreaking plea for her return after she missed her 18th birthday.
Khasha Smith, 35, hasn’t been in contact with relatives for four months prompting a major cop probe.
Her mum Nicola Neil, 55, and daughter Calley Smith, 18, today made a desperate and emotional appeal for information.
They told how the disappearance has been a “living nightmare” as they described Khasha as a “brilliant mum”.
And her distraught daughter revealed her heartbreak after her mum recently missed her 18th birthday.
Shattered Calley said: “I recently had my 18th birthday and didn’t hear anything from my mum. She would never miss my birthday, my sisters’ birthdays, or Christmas.
“It’s just not her. We miss her so much. We want nothing more than my mum to walk through the door and to be able to give her a massive hug.
“It feels like I’m living the worst dream I could ever imagine.
“I can’t express what it would mean to have my mum home. Even the smallest piece of information might be all we need to find her.
“So I’m asking anyone with any information – please come forward and help the police bring my mum home for me, my sisters and the rest of the family.”
Detectives confirmed the last confirmed sighting of Khasha was on 10 October last year and said that they fear they may have come to serious harm.
Mum Nicola Neil said: “Khasha, we love you so much and just need to know you are safe. We need you home with us.
“If anyone, anywhere, knows where Khasha is – please tell us. Please don’t let us go on like this.
“Khasha is a brilliant mum to her three children and is loved by all our very close family. We are all sick with worry.
“Khasha is my friend as well as my daughter and we are living a nightmare.
“It’s hard to find the words to explain the “not knowing” where she is and if anything has happened to her. These past few weeks have been horrendous and painful for us all.
“I would ask anyone out there – even if we don’t know you – please come forward if you know anything at all.
“Please help us bring Khasha home. This waiting is unbearable.
“I’m begging you from the bottom of my heart – please get in touch. I miss her so much and we need to find her.”
Khasha is around 5ft tall, with a slim build. She has blue eyes and long, blonde hair.
She also has tattoos, one which is visible on her right wrist and says ‘Forever’.
She is known to visit the Gorgie, Broomhouse and Wester Hailes areas of the capital.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson said: “Khasha’s family are understandably extremely worried about her.
“We have a dedicated team of officers who are working around the clock to find her and get answers for her family.
“While we are keeping an open mind, and continue to hope Khasha will be found safe and well, we have to consider the possibility that she may have to come to harm. We must consider all possibilities.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and a key focus of our investigation is continuing to build up a picture of Khasha’s life in the months prior to her disappearance.
“We are keen to speak to any of Khasha’s friends who may have information about her whereabouts before the last known confirmed sighting of her on Tuesday, 10 October, 2023.
“We have also set up an online portal to encourage members of the public to submit information, including any recorded footage.
“The Major Incident Public Portal is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to the major investigation team.
“It is absolutely vital that we find Khasha and I would again ask anyone with information – no matter how small or insignificant it may seem – to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3915 of 5 January, 2024.”
Loved ones previously pleaded with anyone worried about repercussions to pass on any info anonymously.
Friends and family have urged people to contact Crimestoppers – without being identified – with anything they think might help find Khasha.
The mum-of-three, of the capital’s Wester Hailes area, was reported missing on January 5 having not been in contact with family for over two months
A loved-one posted online: “Do Crimestoppers record calls? Your call will not be recorded. We have no caller line display, no 1471 facility and cannot trace a call.
“Calls to Crimestoppers are free from all phones, landline or mobile, and will not show up on your bill.
“If you have any information or have seen Khasha recently and feel you can not contact police for fear of repercussions then please call Crimestoppers. Khasha needs you! We need you! Please call.”
We told how cops fear she has come to harm and have carried out a fingertip search of the woods and car park near Khasha’s home.
In January specialist officers were seen scouring for clues including at Edinburgh’s Union Canal.
We previously revealed how murder cops have now taken over the probe as they worked to find a “person of interest” who had gone “off grid”.
Cops have been combing CCTV footage for clues to Khasha’s disappearance and also used specially trained ‘cadaver’ dogs as part of their search.
Officers have also displayed missing person posters around the area as part of their hunt.
TIMELINE OF MISSING MUM KHASHA SMITH'S DISAPPEARANCE
Early October, 2023: Khasha was in contact regularly with family through text messages.
October 10, 2023: The last confirmed sighting of Khasha Smith.
November 1-4, 2023: Last contact made to family members according to Police Scotland.
January 5, 2024: Khasha officially reported missing after worried family members alerted cops to the disappearance.
January 7, 2024: Police launch public appeal over growing concern for Khasha’s welfare.
January 9, 2024: Cops issued a re-appeal after checking a potential sighting in Slateford between 21 and 24 of November, 2023.
January 11, 2024: A major search is launched as an insider revealed fears Khasha may have came to serious harm after specialist officers were seen leaving her home.
January 12, 2024: Murder cops are drafted in over growing concern over Khasha’s safety.
Specialist cops are spotted searching metal containers on Calder Grove.
Sources claims a “person of interest” has “gone off grid” as search is stepped up with sniffer dogs deployed.
January 21, 2024: Specialist officers were seen carrying out a fingertip search of a wooded area and car park close to her home
January 24, 2024: Khasha has been officially missing for three months.
Specialist cops search the canal and a culvert near the Union Canal less than one hundred yards from the mum-of-three’s home.
March 4, 2024: Family make emotional appeal for information.
