Questions remain in Gavin Smith case





Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith

Much of the mystery surrounding Gavin Smith’s disappearance has been solved, but investigators still have one big question to answer: Who killed him, and why?

Hikers last week found the skeletal human remains of Smith–a Calabasas-based 20th Century Fox executive–in a rural area of the Angeles National Forest south of Palmdale near Acton, Lt. Dave Dolson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Smith was last seen on May 1, 2012 leaving the home of a female friend in Oak Park.

The remains, which included a skull, were discovered in a shallow grave. Clothing was reportedly found nearby. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office made a positive identification. 

Smith, 57, vanished two years ago after leaving the Oak Park home. He was driving a black 2000 Mercedes 420E sedan. Smith was reported missing the next day after he failed to pick up one of his children for school.

A father of three sons, Smith lived in West Hills and had worked at 20th Century Fox’s distribution center in Calabasas for 18 years.

Authorities declared Smith dead in May of this year. But no body had been found, until this week. Dolson said the discovery of the remains will provide investigators with new leads.

“It’s obviously a crucial piece of evidence,” Dolson said. “The examination of the body will hopefully lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved.”

“There are indications that there was some trauma,” he said, but added that gunshot was not a likely cause of death.

In 2013, investigators recovered Smith’s Mercedes from a Simi Valley storage unit that was linked to known drug dealer John Creech. The condition of the car and evidence found inside led sheriff’s department officials to believe that Smith had been murdered.

Creech reportedly met Smith’s wife, Chandrika, in a drug rehab center. Creech, who remains in jail on drug charges, is still a “person of interest,” according to Dolson.

“At this point we’re not charging anybody with anything,” but said, “We’re confident that an arrest will be made.”

Dolson said the crime is still under investigation and that the motive for the murder would not be revealed.

The 6-foot, 5-inch Smith played on the 1975 national champion UCLA basketball team coached by John Wooden.


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