New clues and ‘person of interest’ surface in Gavin Smith case





Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith, a Calabasas Fox television executive who went missing last year, is presumed dead by sheriff’s detectives investing the case.

A tip led Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives to a Simi Valley storage unit where they found Smith’s missing black 2000 Mercedes 420e sedan.

Smith, a 57-year-old father of three sons and a resident of West Hills, was last seen leaving in the car from a friend’s home in Oak Park around 10 p.m. on May 1, 2012.

Smith’s body has not been found.

According to sheriff spokesperson Steve Whitmore, detectives obtained evidence that the car was moved from Porter Ranch to Simi Valley on May 8 or 9.

Whitmore said convicted drug dealer John Creech, who is now in county jail for an unrelated charge, is the sole “person of interest” in the case. Smith and Creech’s wife, Chandrika, knew each other from time spent at a drug rehab center, Whitmore said.

“John Creech is a person of interest, and has been for many months,” Whitmore said. “Right now he is the only person of interest.”

The condition of the car when it was recovered by detectives in Simi Valley points to murder, Whitmore said. The evidence also pinpoints when the murder occurred, but no other details of the case are being released.

Smith’s missing Mercedes is the second car recovered in the case, and the vehicles are providing vital evidence. On Jan. 23, detectives recovered a Hummer sports utility vehicle registered to John Creech. The vehicle was found at a marijuana grow house in Granada Hills.

Smith played on the 1975 national champion UCLA basketball team coached by John Wooden. He worked at 20th Century Fox’s distribution center in Calabasas.

Although the discovery of the car has provided much-needed evidence, Whitmore said detectives continue to seek tips from the public.

Anybody with information about Smith’s disappearance should call detectives at (323) 890-5500.


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