Nic Smith’s Final Days Turned Into Distressing Questions

Nic Smith’s – University of Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith, 20, died by suicide on June 8, 2026. Reports reviewed by MISRYOUM describe police findings from the day he was found unresponsive in a locked dorm room, along with messages, family grief, and allegations invo

University of Kentucky defensive lineman Nic Smith spent the final weekend of his life moving between football life, a Lexington festival—and messages that later sounded like a warning.

He was 20 when he died by suicide on June 8, 2026, according to a Fayette County Coroner’s Office report obtained by MISRYOUM on Monday, June 15. Smith, a defensive lineman from Loganville, Georgia who redshirted his first season, was found in his dorm room around 10:40 a.m. local time.

Investigators said police were called for a wellness check after a resident assistant couldn’t reach him. When officers opened Smith’s locked bedroom door, he was found unresponsive. Firefighters attempted life-saving measures, but they were not successful.

The weeks that followed have been marked by details about what happened in the days before his death—worrying statements to friends, alleged drinking and a car crash, and late-night social media posts that friends later said they hadn’t recognized as an emergency.

A Fayette County Coroner’s Office report concluded Smith took his own life on June 8, 2026.

Smith’s family later spoke publicly. On June 9. 2026. his mother. Genedra Rountree. announced via Facebook. “I post this to let those who knew my son and loved him of the passing of our gentle giant. ” adding. “I know there are more people that I can call or think who loved and cared about my son and was rooting for him.” The posts came as friends and police reports were piecing together what Smith had been carrying.

In the days leading up to June 8, investigators described conversations that referenced suicide.

A police report filed on June 9, 2026, documented an investigator speaking with someone who recalled a phone conversation with Smith from June 7, 2026. In that conversation, Smith allegedly told the friend that “he was not sure if he could continue.”

That same report said the friend then asked Smith’s roommate to knock on Smith’s locked bedroom door on June 8, but there was no response. The roommate went to work out and later shared concerns with others.

Other details came through police interviews that described alleged distress after a car crash and discussion of suicide tied to a family loss.

Friends told investigators that Smith had struggled after the death of his sister, Keitlynn, in April 2026. One friend alleged Smith had been distressed after crashing his car while driving drunk in the days before his death.

Law enforcement said the friend relayed to University of Kentucky police on June 10. 2026. that he witnessed Smith’s behavior during the last weekend of his life. The officer’s write-up described that Smith drove the friend group to a party on June 5. 2026. but “was drunk and accidentally wrecked his vehicle by hitting a curb.”.

After the crash, the friend told police Smith allegedly said he wanted to off himself. The officer wrote that the friend believed Smith “didn’t mean anything by it and was just drunk and pissed off that he wrecked his vehicle.”

In that account, Smith reportedly tied those statements to his frustration over the damage. The report says the friend told Nicholas he should continue for his late sister who died in April. and that Smith was crying at this point. The friend did not tell others. the report states. because he was afraid Smith might get in trouble with coaches and “didn’t want to look like a snitch.”.

Police reports also described an evening at the Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky on June 7, where Smith’s ticket was paid for by the same friend who later spoke to police about the car crash.

During the concert. which the friend said began with drinking after 1:00 p.m. the friend recalled Smith drinking “at least a few drinks. possibly Beatbox ones. ” and being warned to avoid more due to early morning workouts. The friend said Smith was “acting normal. happy. acting country and enjoying himself” for most of the day—except for one moment when the group was talking to girls.

According to the police report, Smith walked away when he didn’t have a girl to talk to, and the friend pulled him back to the group and reminded him they were there to have a good time and not to worry.

As the group left the festival. police wrote that Smith told them he was very thankful for being taken to the concert. The report says Smith continued telling them he appreciated them and was thankful for them being “good to him. ” eventually adding. “he loved them as well.” The friend later told police he asked Smith if he was alright. and Smith responded that he was good.

The report adds that Smith and the friend group went to WG4 (Woodland Glen Four dorm at UKC) together and that this was the last time the friend saw him on Sunday night.

Still, investigators said Smith posted something late that night.

While at the concert, police noted that Smith allegedly posted an Instagram Story at around 11:30 p.m. that read, “IDK if i should continue on.” The friend later told university police he hadn’t reported anything unusual because he did not notice anything worrying during the festival.

After that Sunday night, police accounts of what happened inside the dorm sharpened the urgency.

Smith’s roommate spoke to investigators on June 10, 2026. The roommate recalled a brief conversation with Smith in the dorm the night before his death. saying Smith had told him about wrecking his vehicle over the weekend but did not know many details—only that he damaged his vehicle and seemed mad at himself.

Smith and the roommate had agreed to switch morning workout times for June 8, 2026. When the roommate stepped out for his workout, he later received a call informing him Smith had not shown up on time for practice.

The roommate returned to the dorm to find Smith’s bedroom door locked. a detail the report described as “unusual.” Police wrote that the roommate banged loudly on the door. even worrying Smith might get mad. and played alarm sounds through a Bluetooth speaker to try waking him up. The report states Smith never answered the door.

Investigators also examined Smith’s phone.

University of Kentucky police detailed an examination of Smith’s iPhone on June 11, 2026. Police wrote that investigators found multiple messages from the night of the Railbird concert where Smith shared that he was “pissed.” One message to a redacted person included. “And honestly I wanna say f*** everything … I’m tired of ts. ” according to the report.

The device also confirmed that Smith texted both his mother and father that he loved them on the morning of his death. The police report states those messages were not delivered.

Other details emerged from discussions with Smith’s family about what was missing.

On June 10. 2026. Kentucky police said they spoke with Smith’s mother and two sisters about his death. including questioning about Smith’s wallet. which was missing from his dorm bedroom. The officer wrote that Smith’s mother did not know what kind of wallet it was or exactly what was in it beyond ID cards and bank cards.

The report also says the officer noted that Smith’s mother “expressed concerns” about his father and stepmother, though the exact reasoning was redacted.

Police interviews further described a complicated family dynamic—particularly around money—and a friend’s confusion about why Smith hadn’t reached out in a moment that friend later said should have triggered help.

A second friend spoke to police on June 10. 2026. describing being in phone contact with Smith “up to 3 or 4 times a day.” The friend alleged that Smith’s mother only seemed to call when she wanted money and asked for money “constantly.” The friend told police about one recent call where Smith’s mother said it was her anniversary and that she should get money; the friend believed Smith sent “several thousand dollars.” The report says the friend believed that relationship stressed Smith out and put further stress on him regarding money.

On the other hand, the friend said things seemed fine between Smith and his father.

The friend told police he didn’t understand why Smith didn’t call him on Sunday night if Smith was upset or going through something. The report says Smith had referenced suicide to this friend in the past and even claimed he had tried to end his life once before.

The friend wrote that the earlier attempt served as a wake-up call for Smith “to never do something like that again,” but that Smith allegedly told him he would still call if he was feeling depressed.

Even as the friend described confusion. the report included another detail that carried its own weight: the friend acknowledged that Smith recently told him. “When I go. I want you to take all of my stuff.” The friend said Smith remained in contact with him after the alleged drunk driving crash on June 5. 2026.

Police wrote that the two friends discussed the crash afterward. The report states Smith told the friend he was drunk driving Friday night or Saturday morning and hit the curb on Sports Center Drive. damaging some tires. It adds that Smith was “pissed at himself” for the damage. and that the friend said he and Smith were working to get the vehicle towed and fixed.

The friend said he reassured Smith they would “figure it out,” but that Smith was stressed and upset with himself.

In the final stretch of the last two days, investigators also reviewed security footage.

Police wrote in a June 10, 2026 report that security cameras in UKC’s Woodland Glen Four dorm building recorded Smith several times over the final two days of his life. The report states that “nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary” was observed.

For a family and a football community trying to understand how someone could appear to move through normal hours and still leave messages that suggested he might not be able to continue, the timeline now rests on conversations, late-night posts, and a locked dorm door.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Nic Smith University of Kentucky UK football suicide Fayette County Coroner’s Office Lexington Railbird Festival dorm roommate iPhone messages Instagram Story investigation