Memorial Contributions to Remember Missing Girls

WASHINGTON - The families of the two missing Montgomery County girls who died of carbon monoxide poisoning are asking for memorial contributions in their names be made to separate organizations.

Contributions in the memory of Rachel Lacy Crites, 18, of Gaithersburg may be made to the following:

Montgomery County Crisis Center
1301 Piccard Dr.
Rockville, Md. 20850.

Contributions in the memory of Rachel Samantha Smith, 16, of North Potomac, may be made to the following:

Congregation B'nai Tzedek Eternal Light Fund
10621 South Glen Rd.
Potomac, Md. 20854.

A memorial service for Crites is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. Martin's Catholic Church at Frederick Road and Summit Avenue in Gaithersburg. Viewings at the DeVol Funeral Home at 10 Deer Park Drive in Gaithersburg are set for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9.

Crites' interment will be private, as was Smith's. Rabbi Stuart Weinblatt, who eulogized Rachel Smith at her funeral Wednesday, made a direct appeal to the crowd of teens who paid their respects at Congregation B'nai Tzedak.

"I wanted them to know that as they themselves were struggling to make sense of what had happened, it was important for them to reach out to each other to honor Rachel's memory through acts of kindness," he told WTOP.

The Virginia Medical Examiner ruled Monday the two missing Montgomery County girls died of carbon monoxide poisoning, and it was an act of suicide.

The reports are preliminary, pending the results of toxicology tests.

Crites and Smith were found in the front seats of Crites' car in a remote area of Loudoun County on Friday, Feb. 2. They had been missing since Jan. 19.

Sources tell WTOP Radio there were no notes, no empty bottles of pills or alcohol, but investigators did find the keys turned in the "on" position and the car had run out of gas.

Loudoun County Sheriff's spokesman Kraig Troxell said the dark blue Subaru Outback was found about 2:15 p.m. on Friday by someone who was driving along an access road off Route 9 in a remote area near the West Virginia border.

Wootton High School Principal Michael Doran released the following statement:

The Wootton community has worked tirelessly this past two weeks first in looking for the girls and now has turned toward supporting the families and friends. For those of you who knew Rachel Smith and Rachel Crites, we ask that you remember and celebrate their memories.

Rachel Smith was passionate about academics and animals. She was an excellent student here at Wootton and had plans to become a veterinarian. For those of you who did not know Rachel Smith and Rachel Crites, we ask that you respect our sadness and support us with your understanding. Rachel Crites was a very thoughtful young woman who cared deeply about her friends. Some of her friends at Wootton described her as a beautiful person who made them smile and whose laughter was contagious.

On Friday night, Montgomery County Police thanked the community for their "energy, dedication and caring" in the investigation.

Montgomery County Police said they never confirmed tips of possible sightings of the girls, but continued to receive tips throughout the investigation, and remained hopeful that they would find the girls alive.

On Jan. 19, Smith's mother, Marian, received a cell phone call from her daughter, which was traced to a tower in Charles Town, W.Va.

The discovery comes as the Crites and Smith families were in the process of establishing a reward fund for the girls on Friday.

Law enforcement agencies all along the East Coast - from Maine and down to Florida - were notified about the case. The girls and their vehicle were listed in a law enforcement national registry of missing persons, as well as missing person registries sponsored by private organizations.

Police also enlisted the help of Team Adam, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's rapid response team, which includes former FBI agents.

While there was no evidence of foul play, police said they were concerned about the mental state of Smith and Crites. Police and family members said they want the girls to know the concerns or problems they may be facing can be resolved.

Troy Crites, Rachel's father, said Rachel Smith was there for his daughter as she dealt with depression last spring.

On Jan. 22, wtopnews.com received a message board comment from Rachel's older sister, Lindsay, saying the girls "didn't run away because of their sexuality" and thanking everyone for their prayers and concerns.

An entry from Crites' diary has her family particularly concerned, WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported Jan 23.

The entry read: "Wherever I end up laying, whether buried or cremated, I want to stay with my true love, buried next to her. This is my choice. I'm sorry."

(Copyright 2007 by WTOP Radio and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)