>> (MUSIC) >> MY BROTHER, HE ALWAYS HAD A
VISION
I COULD FEEL JUST HIS ENERGY,
HIS PASSION FOR LIFE
I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS
WRONG.
MY SUSPICIONS WERE THERE
ALL OF A SUDDEN, IN ONE SECOND,
EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE
>> IT DIDN'T SEEM WEIRD THAT
CHRIS WOULD JUST UP AND LEAVE
BECAUSE HE WAS SINGLE AND HE
LOVED TO TRAVEL.
>> HE TALKED ABOUT GOING TO
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
>> HE WOULD GO FROM ONE PLACE TO
ANOTHER.
"I'M IN AUSTRIA," THEN, "I'M IN
INDIA.
>> Reporter: MONTH AFTER MONTH
YOU WERE GETTING THESE E-MAILS
NO PHONE CALLS
>> NO.
WHOEVER WAS EMAILING US, I FELT
LIKE THIS WASN'T MY SON.
WHO IS THIS?
>> THERE'S BLOOD ON THE CEILING,
BLOOD ON THE CARPET.
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE WALLS
THIS CASE IS ABOUT GREED AT ITS
MOST DIABOLICAL.
>> A SURFER GOES MISSING
WORLDWIDE ADVENTURE OR
MIND-BENDING MURDER?
>> IT WAS TOUGH.
>> HITS YOU RIGHT IN THE GUT
IT'S AS IF WE WERE WORKING WITH
THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
>> I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH "IN A
LONELY PLACE."
>> Reporter: AGAIN AND AGAIN HE
RODE THEM AS IF THEY WERE HIS
WAVES AND THIS HIS OWN PRIVATE
OCEAN.
AS IF THE SEA COULD WASH AWAY
THE TROUBLE THAT THREATENED TO
SINK HIM
WHY HIM, OF ALL PEOPLE
HE WAS THE DUDE.
THE CHARISMATIC, CAREFREE,
CREATIVE ONE WHOSE TALENT WOULD
SURELY MAKE HIM RICH
>> HE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT
THOUGHT ANYTHING WAS POSSIBLE.
>> HE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT
HE ALWAYS WANTED TO FIGURE OUT A
WAY TO DO IT ON HIS OWN.
>> Reporter: HE WAS, WHAT WOULD
YOU CALL IT, A BEAUTIFUL
DREAMER.
OUT HERE ON HIS OWN.
GOING HIS OWN WAY LIKE ALWAYS.
NO IDEA WHAT WAS WAITING FOR
HIM.
CHRIS SMITH GREW UP ON
CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL COAST IN A
TOWN CALLED WATSONVILLE.
A VERY CLOSE FAMILY OF DEEPLY
COMMITTED CHRISTIANS
PARENTS, STEVE AND DEBI, BROTHER
PAUL
STEVE WAS A COP.
AND THEN A FIREFIGHTER
DEBI, A TEACHER.
HOME WAS A KIND OF BOY'S EDEN.
>> WE LIVED ON A PRIVATE SKI
LAKE CALLED KELLY LAKE
SO -
>> Reporter: NOT BAD
>> YEAH, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE.
>> Reporter: I MEAN, FOR KIDS,
MY GOD
>> YEAH.
IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP.
WE HAD JET SKIS FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME BEFORE WE GOT IN TROUBLE
WITH 'EM
AND HE SOLD 'EM.
WE HAD A BOAT.
>> Reporter: BUT JUST MINUTES
AWAY, LIKE A MAGNET,
IRRESISTIBLE WERE PACIFIC
BEACHES MANRESA AND LA SELVA
BACK AND FORTH THEY WENT, CHRIS
AND PAUL
LAKE TO OCEAN AND BACK AGAIN
>> WE'D GO WAKE BOARDING
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TAKE A
SHOWER AND GO SURF A HALF HOUR
LATER.
>> Reporter: CHRIS, A LITTLE
QUIRKY, TALENTED AND INTENSE
PART SURFER DUDE, PART DO-GOODER
EVEN AS A TEENAGER
ALWAYS EAGER TO HELP THOSE IN
NEED
>> HE'D GET A NEW COAT FOR
CHRISTMAS.
AND THEN I'D THINK, "WELL,
WHERE'D IT GO?
"WELL, THIS OTHER GUY NEEDED
IT."
HE GAVE HIS BIKE TO A GIRL THAT
WAS JUST NEEDIN' IT HE SAW DOWN
IN SANTA CRUZ.
SO IT WAS JUST PART OF WHO HE
WAS.
>> Reporter: HE TRIED OUT
PROFESSIONAL WAKE BOARDING
BUT DISCOVERED ALSO, HE HAD A
KNACK FOR MAKING MONEY AS HE
WENT TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
PARTIED A BIT, AND WENT SURFING
A LOT.
PAUL WENT TO UNIVERSITY AND MET
LEAH
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND PAUL UNTIL I MET
CHRIS.
AND THEN IT WAS LIKE TWO PUZZLE
PIECES COMING TOGETHER
>> Reporter: AND CHRIS WAS A
NATURAL ENTREPRENEUR
HE GOT INTO THE TECH WORLD,
ADVERTISING.
MOVED TO L.A. AND BEGAN
INVESTING IN GOLD, TOO -- IN
KRUGERRANDS.
>> HE WAS ABLE TO GET A NICE,
PLUSH CONDO IN MALIBU ON THE
BEACH AND GOT A BMW.
AND --
>> Reporter: THAT AIN'T BAD.
>> NO.
>> NO, IT WAS NICE
>> YEAH, HE WAS -- HE WAS
EXCITED.
I REMEMBER BEING WITH HIM IN -
IN HIS BMW, LISTENING TO MADONNA
WITH THE TOP DOWN AND GOING
THROUGH -- WILSHIRE BOULEVARD.
AND HE WAS PROUD OF HIMSELF, OF
WHERE HE WAS IN LIFE
SO -
>> Reporter: AND HE WAS
GENEROUS
TOOK PAUL OFF ON AN EXOTIC
ADVENTURE AND PICKED UP THE TAB.
>> I THINK HE WAS MAKING
$40,000 TO $75,000 A MONTH AT
THE TIME
>> Reporter: HOLY COW.
>> HE'S LIKE, "WHERE DO YOU WANT
TO GO?
YOU KNOW, "YOU PICK.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?"
AND SO I SAID, "LET'S GO FOR A
SURF TRIP.
LET'S GO TO TAHITI."
AND SO HE BOOKED A 23-DAY
VACATION
WE HOPPED AROUND ALL THESE
DIFFERENT ISLANDS IN TAHITI.
AND IT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE
BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: IN 2009, CHRIS
MOVED A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR
SOUTH FROM LA TO LAGUNA BEACH.
HE HAD TEAMED UP WITH ANOTHER
YOUNG GO-GETTER NAMED ED SHIN.
>> ED WAS ACTUALLY VERY
PROFESSIONAL
VERY CALM, VERY POISED, VERY
PROFESSIONAL, DRESSED VERY WELL.
>> Reporter: AND CHRISTINA GRIES
WOULD KNOW
SHE WORKED THE FRONT DESK AT THE
NEW ADVERTISING COMPANY CHRIS
AND ED STARTED
THE 800 EXCHANGE, THEY CALLED
IT
TWO MORE DIFFERENT MEN WOULD BE
HARD TO FIND, SAID CHRISTINA
OUTWARDLY, ANYWAY.
CHRIS WAS SINGLE
ED WAS MARRIED WITH KIDS
CHRIS WAS A SURFER
ED WAS A SPORTS MEMORABILIA
COLLECTOR.
AND CHRIS --
>> HE WAS VERY CASUAL, DRESSED
IN BOARD SHORTS VERY OFTEN,
SWEATSHIRTS.
WOULD NOT BE THE
UBER-PROFESSIONAL PERSON THAT
C -- THAT ED ACTUALLY SEEMED TO
BE VERY OFTEN.
>> Reporter: CHRIS WITH HIS
FREE-SPIRITED CREATIVITY WAS THE
YIN TO ED'S NUMBER CRUNCHING
YANG
AND YET, THERE WERE SHARED
PASSIONS, TOO.
THEIR CHRISTIAN FAITH, FOR ONE
THING.
ED SEEMED ESPECIALLY DEVOUT.
BOTH LIKED THE FINER THINGS AND
BOTH WANTED TO MAKE MONEY.
AND THEY DID
THEY WORKED A PROFITABLE LITTLE
CORNER OF THE ADVERTISING GAME
THEY MADE AND PLACED ADS FOR
DEBT CONSOLIDATION, THAT SORT OF
THING.
THE IDEA WAS TO GET VIEWERS WHO
SAW THE ADS ON TV INTERESTED
ENOUGH TO CALL AN 800 NUMBER
AND WHEN THEY DID, THEIR
INFORMATION WOULD BE FARMED OUT
TO COMPANIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
EACH CALL WAS A "LEAD.
>> WE WERE GETTING LEADS FOR
PEOPLE THAT WERE CALLING IN THAT
HAD EITHER CREDIT CARD DEBT OR
ST -- STUDENT LOAN DEBT AND
PUTTING THEM TOWARDS COMPANIES
THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO
CONSOLIDATE THEIR DEBTS.
>> Reporter: RIGHT AWAY THE NEW
BUSINESS TOOK OFF.
>> I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY,
"YEAH.
THE COMPANY I WORK FOR IS DOING
AMAZING.
WE'RE DOING GREAT.
AND I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO WORK
THERE.
'CAUSE I THOUGHT IT'S A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO GROW
>> Reporter: CHRIS EVEN BROUGHT
HIS BROTHER PAUL ON-BOARD.
BY THEN PAUL AND LEAH WERE
MARRIED WITH TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
AND THERE THEY WERE, TWO
BROTHERS LIVING IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
>> MY BROTHER WOULD COME OVER
FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND WE'D GO SURF SALT CREEK
TOGETHER
IT WAS -- LIFE COULDN'T HAVE
BEEN BETTER.
>> Reporter: AND UNCLE CHRIS
ALWAYS MADE TIME FOR HIS NIECES.
>> HE WOULD HAVE WATER BALLOON
FIGHTS
>> Reporter: YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT
THIS WATER BAL -- TELL ME
ABOUT -- WHAT WAS THAT ALL
ABOUT?
>> OUR DAUGHTERS WERE PROBABLY
THREE AND ONE.
>> WE NEED ONE OF THOSE WATER
BALLOON LAUNCHERS.
>> OUR OLDEST WANTED TO HAVE A
WATER BALLOON FIGHT.
AND SO THEY JUST WENT AT IT.
AND SHE NAILED HIM
I MEAN, FOR A GROWN MAN TO BE
WILLING TO GET SO SOAKING WET, I
WAS SURPRISED.
>> Reporter: AND AT WORK, IN THE
OFFICE
>> HE WAS PLAYFUL.
HE WOULD BUY REMOTE CONTROL TOYS
AND FLY THEM AROUND THE OFFICE
WHEN I REMEMBER.
AND HE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY PRANKS
ON OUR NEIGHBORS THAT WERE
NEARBY IN THE OFFICE SUITE
>> Reporter: MIND YOU, CHRIS HAD
HIS SERIOUS SIDE, TOO.
CERTAINLY WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING
MONEY.
BUT ALSO, IN EARLY 2010, HE WAS
SERIOUS ABOUT SOMEONE.
>> I REMEMBER HER BEING VERY
STRIKING, VERY BEAUTIFUL, REALLY
SWEET.
>> Reporter: CHRIS' GIRLFRIEND
WAS A DANCER AND A PILATES
INSTRUCTOR
AND HE WAS IN LOVE
HE INTRODUCED HER TO HIS
PARENTS.
>> AND THEN THAT WAS PRETTY
SPECIAL.
'CAUSE I REMEMBER CHRIS --
>> IT WAS.
>> TALKING ABOUT HER
AND HE LEANED OVER ME, "DAD,
ISN'T SHE BEAUTIFUL?
AND THEN EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
HE'D GO, "DAD, I THINK SHE MAY
BE THE ONE."
>> SHE MAY BE THE ONE.
>> Reporter: BUT MEANWHILE,
PULLING ALWAYS, THERE WAS THE
SURF, THE OCEAN ALWAYS CALLING
EVEN WHEN IT MEANT HIS DAYS WERE
A LITTLE UPSIDE DOWN
>> CHRIS, I WAS TOLD, WOULD WORK
LONG HOURS IN THE EVENING OR
SOMETIMES FROM HOME.
JUST BECAUSE I WAS TOLD HE -- HE
LIKED TO GO SURFING DURING THE
DAY.
HE LOVED THE IDEA OF BEING OUT
ON THE WATER
AND I REMEMBER HIM MAKING A JOKE
HOW HE SAID HE WAS GONNA TRY TO
GET OUR OFFICE TO BE ON A BOAT
SO WE COULD BE OUTSIDE
>> Reporter: AND YET, BY JUNE OF
2010, PAUL COULD SEE HIS BROTHER
WAS BECOMING DISTRACTED, GROWING
RESTLESS
>> HIM AND I SAT IN THE HOT TUB,
YOU KNOW, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, ONE
OF THE LAST TIMES WE WERE
TOGETHER
AND HE WAS VERY STRESSED
>> Reporter: OH, THEY'D FIND OUT
EVENTUALLY, WHAT WAS BOTHERING
HIM.
IT WOULD WIND UP HAUNTING THEM
ALL.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> I THOUGHT HE FINALLY DID IT
>> CHRIS SMITH'S LIFE TAKES A
SUDDEN TURN -- WORD OF A
GLOBETROTTING ADVENTURE WITH A
GLAMOROUS NEW COMPANION.
>> A "PLAYBOY" PLAYMATE?
HE DIDN'T EVER TALK ABOUT THOSE
KINDS OF GIRLS
I MEAN, WHY WOULD HE EVER DO
THAT
>> IT WOULD BE THE FIRST
QUESTION OF MANY IN THIS
MYSTERIOUS CASE.
>> Reporter: MAYBE YOU COULD
EXPLAIN.
>> THERE ARE JUST SOME SECRETS
THAT A MAN IS WILLING TO GIVE UP
>> Reporter: CHRIS SMITH USED TO
SCORN WHAT HE CALLED THE MOO
THE MASSES OF PEOPLE WHO PLOD
THROUGH LIFE LIKE CATTLE
FOLLOWING THE CROWD, BOWING TO
THE MAN.
>> I HEARD HIM SAY, "THE MOO
COW," SO
>> Reporter: THE MOO COW
>> THE MOO COW
>> Reporter: CHRIS' BROTHER,
PAUL
>> HE'D REFER TO THE U.S. AS THE
MOO COW, JUST GETTING MILKED AND
JUST EVERYBODY WORKING SUCH LONG
HOURS.
>> Reporter: NOT LIVING?
>> YEAH.
NOT LIVING
A JOB WHERE YOU'RE JUST, LIKE,
SITTING WITH YOUR BUTT IN THE
SEAT, YOU KNOW, ON A COMPUTER
ALL DAY.
THAT'S ONE THING HE NEVER WANTED
TO DO.
HE THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST
SOMETHIN' THAT JUST TOOK YOUR
LIFE, TOOK THE LIFE OUT OF YOU
>> Reporter: AND BY JUNE OF
2010, IT SEEMED MAYBE THAT VERY
THING HAD HAPPENED TO CHRIS.
THE MAN WHO LOVED THE WIDE OPEN
SEA WAS FEELING PENNED IN.
PAUL KNEW BECAUSE HE WORKED
ALONGSIDE CHRIS AT 800 XCHANGE
>> HE WAS DEFINITELY VERY
STRESSED OUT
>> Reporter: STILL, PAUL WAS
SHOCKED AT THE WAY CHRIS JUST
LEFT
PAUL, LEAH AND THEIR KIDS HAD
JUST COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA
FROM A VACATION IN OREGON.
AND CHRIS HAD AGREED TO PICK
THEM UP AT THE AIRPORT
>> NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP
>> Reporter: DIDN'T CALL
NOTHING?
>> NOTHING
>> I WAS IRRITATED
IT'S A LONG FLIGHT WITH KIDS,
AND THEN NOTHING
SO, WE JUST GOT A TAXI AND WENT
HOME
>> I WAS A LITTLE BIT
FRUSTRATED
BUT IT'S YOUR BROTHER.
AND THERE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A
GOOD EXPLANATION, SO -
>> Reporter: OH, THERE WAS AN
EXPLANATION, ALL RIGHT
THE NEXT DAY PAUL TALKED TO ED
WHO SAID CHRIS HAD SOLD HIS
SHARE OF THE BUSINESS.
>> TO NOT TELL HIS BROTHER THAT
HE WAS TALKIN' ABOUT A BUYOUT,
AND GOING THROUGH WITH -- A DEAL
LIKE THAT, IT HURT
YOU KNOW, IT HURT FOR A WHILE.
BUT WHERE WAS CHRIS?
HIS FAMILY SOON FOUND OUT.
HE SENT HIS PARENTS, STEVE AND
DEBI, AN EMAIL
>> I'M GOING ON VACATION,
PROBABLY THREE-WEEK TRIP TO
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND COSTA
RICA
I'LL LET YOU KNOW FOR SURE BY
FRIDAY
>> AND THEN I SAID, "GOOD FOR
YOU.
TAKE PICS IF YOU CAN
YOU WILL SEE AMAZING THINGS.
YES, BREATHE
SEE ONLY CHRIS
LOVE YOU, MOM.
>> IT WAS ALL SO SUDDEN.
BUT GIVEN THAT THIS WAS CHRIS --
THE FREE SPIRIT, SURFER DUDE OF
THE FAMILY, THE DECISION MADE
SENSE, TOO
>> I THOUGHT, "HE FINALLY DID
IT. HE REALLY DID IT."
>> I JUST SAID, OKAY, YOU KNOW,
DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO
>> GET OUT OF THE SITUATION.
>> I WANTED THE BEST FOR HIM,
WHATEVER DECISION HE WAS GONNA
MAKE
>> THERE WERE TIMES WHERE HE'D
STOOD IN THE KITCHEN AND SAID,
"I'M JUST SO OVER IT
I'M GONNA BE DONE WITH IT ALL,
AND JUST GO BE A BARTENDER ON
THE BEACH.
>> DEBI KNEW IT WASN'T UNLIKE
HER DRIVEN SON TO SUDDENLY TAKE
A SHARP, 90-DEGREE TURN IN LIFE.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED, BUT HE TALKED
ABOUT GOING TO THE GALAPAGOS
ISLANDS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO IS REALLY
AMBITIOUS, INTERESTED IN -
>> YES
>> SOMETHING NEW, BUT IF THE
STRESS GOT TOO MUCH HE MIGHT
JUST GO OFF AND DO SOMETHIN'
ELSE INSTEAD
>> WELL, JUST TAKE A BREAK
>> TAKE A BREAK, YEAH.
>> YEAH.
RIGHT.
>> BUT THEN THEY LEARNED THAT
CHRIS' "BREAK" WASN'T ONLY FROM
ALL THE "MOOS" OF THE WORLD.
IT WAS FROM HIS GIRLFRIEND, TOO.
HE'D DUMPED HER BY TEXT.
SO MUCH FOR THE CHILL SURFER
DUDE
>> AS HIS MOM, YES, I WAS
SHOCKED.
AND I THOUGHT --
>> WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT OF A
WOMAN WAS THAT
>> I THINK THE HARD PART AS A
PARENT AND A MOM, YOU KNOW, YOU
KNOW YOUR KIDS, IS THINKING,
"THIS IS WEIRD."
>> AND GETTING WEIRDER
PAUL FINALLY GOT AN EMAIL FROM
CHRIS.
AND IT FEATURED A PICTURE OF HIS
BROTHER'S NEW TRAVELING
COMPANION.
HER NAME WAS TIFFANY TAYLOR, A
PLAYBOY PLAYMATE
>> "I MEAN, WHY -- WHY WOULD HE
EVER DO THAT?"
>> WELL, YOU BREAKUP
>> AND THIS ISN'T -- I REMEMBER
TELLIN' STEVE, I MEAN, "THIS
IS -- THIS IS WHACKY."
A PLAYBOY PLAYMATE, HE DIDN'T
EVER TALK ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF
GIRLS.
>> OVER THE FOLLOWING WEEKS,
CHRIS SENT MORE EMAILS TO HIS
FAMILY ABOUT HIS TRAVELS WITH
TIFFANY.
>> "AMAZING SAILING FOR THE PAST
TWO WEEKS!
WE ARE ON A 45-FOOT SAILING
YACHT, SO THERE'S NO INTERNET OR
PHONES
JUST US AND THE SEA.
>> BY JULY, CHRIS' THREE-WEEK
HOLIDAY HAD TURNED INTO A MONTH.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME HOME
AFTER VISITING THE GALAPAGOS
AND NOW, HE WAS EXTENDING HIS
VOYAGE
>> THE EMAILS CONTINUED TO COME
IN
AND HE WOULD GO FROM ONE PLACE
TO ANOTHER, "OH, I'M GOIN' HERE
NOW.
I'M GOIN' TO THE TIP OF CHILE.
>> AND THEN ONTO ARGENTINA
BUT HERE'S WHAT BOTHERED THEM
MOST, CHRIS HADN'T CALLED HOME
NOT EVEN ONCE.
IN AN EMAIL DATED JULY 13th, HE
EXPLAINED WHY.
BLUNTLY.
>> "NO PHONE, DIDN'T BRING ONE
DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY
FOR A BIT.
>> WHY NO PHONE CALLS?
WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT THAT IN
HIS EMAILS
>> HE THREW HIS PHONE AWAY
HE SAID HE DIDN'T NEED IT.
HE WAS JUST TR -- HE WAS
TRAVELING.
AND SO HE WAS JUST GONNA BE
OPERATING --
>> AND I GUESS WHEN HE WAS AT
SEA, HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEND
THEM
>> RIGHT
SO HE WAS JUST -- HE WAS JUST
OPERATING BY E-MAIL.
>> BY AUGUST HIS FATHER STEVE
WAS MORE THAN JUST ANNOYED
>> PROBABLY THE SECOND MONTH
INTO IT, I GOT A LITTLE
SUSPICIOUS ON IT, TOO.
AND I STARTED ASKING HIM
QUESTIONS THAT -- NOBODY'D
REALLY KNOW.
>> MAYBE IT WAS THE FORMER COP
IN STEVE
HE THOUGHT THE EMAILS SOUNDED
LIKE CHRIS IN WORD -
BUT NOT BEHAVIOR
LIKE HE WASN'T ACTING LIKE
HIMSELF.
THAT'S WHEN STEVE DECIDED TO SET
A TRAP
>>> COMING UP --
WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING WITH
CHRIS?
A SURPRISE CLUE SURFACES IN
LAS VEGAS.
>> I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER AT
FIRST.
>> Reporter: TIFFANY TAYLOR, THE
"PLAYBOY" PLAYMATE
>> I WAS SO EXCITED TO TALK TO
HER AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW,
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WITH MY
BROTHER?
WHERE'S MY BROTHER
SHE JUST LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS
>> Reporter: CHRIS SMITH'S
FAMILY WAS TRYING TO BE PATIENT.
IN JUNE OF 2010, HE ABRUPTLY
CASHED OUT OF HIS BUSINESS,
DUMPED HIS GIRLFRIEND, SET SAIL
FOR A THREE-WEEK TOUR OF SOUTH
AMERICA WITH A PLAYBOY PLAYMATE.
OH, DEAR
>> I WANTED HIM TO BE HAPPY.
SO IF HE NEEDED TO CHECK OUT AND
HE WAS OFFERED A DEAL, AND HE
TOOK IT, SO BE IT.
YOU KNOW, I'D SUPPORT HIM ANY
WAY I COULD.
>> IT FEELS LIKE HE NEEDED
SPACE, AND WE WERE GONNA GIVE
HIM SOME SPACE
>> YEAH.
UH-HUH
>> THAT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY
TO DO.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN CHRIS'
THREE-WEEK TRIP TURNED INTO A
MONTH, AND THEN TWO.
AND HE STILL HADN'T CALLED HOME.
EMAILS ONLY.
THAT JUST WASN'T LIKE CHRIS,
THOUGHT HIS DAD.
SO IN AUGUST, STEVE TYPED OUT A
STRANGE, BRIEF EMAIL TO THIS
CHRIS.
>> WHAT LAKE DID WE USED TO LIVE
ON
WHAT TYPE OF BOAT DID WE USED TO
DRIVE, AND STUFF LIKE THAT
>> Reporter: QUESTIONS ONLY HIS
SON WOULD KNOW THE ANSWERS TO.
WELL, THEN THERE WAS A REPLY
FROM CHRIS
KELLY LAKE WAS THE PLACE THEIR
FAMILY ONCE LIVED.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING THEN
WHEN YOU SAW THAT?
>> THAT'S CONFIRMING IT WAS
CHRIS?
I MEAN, WHO -- IT WOULD BE
DIABOLICAL THAT MUCH TO -- TO
RESEARCH THAT INFORMATION TO BE
ABLE TO COME BACK, AND GIVE THE
ANSWERS TO IT.
>> Reporter: STEVE WAS
COMFORTED.
HIS SON CHRIS WAS ALL RIGHT.
THE FAMILY TRIED TO RE-FOCUS ON
THEIR OWN LIVES.
PAUL WAS STILL WORKING AT
800 EXCHANGE, CHRIS'S OLD
BUSINESS
>> THE COMPANY WAS DOING WELL.
>> Reporter: BY OCTOBER OF 2010,
FOUR MONTHS AFTER CHRIS LEFT, ED
HAD A PLAN TO MAKE THE BUSINESS
MORE PROFITABLE.
IT INVOLVED A TRIP TO VEGAS.
>> WE WERE THERE MEETING AN
INVESTOR THAT WANTED TO INVEST
IN THE COMPANY
>> Reporter: UH-HUH?
>> SO HE TOOK US ALL THERE
>> BIG LAVISH TRIP
>> Reporter: AND EVERYONE FROM
THE OFFICE WAS INVITED
EVEN CHRISTINA
>> YOU KNOW, HERE I AM JUST THE
ASSISTANT.
SO WHY WOULD I GO?
BUT BECAUSE WE WERE SUCH A SMALL
OFFICE, ED ACTUALLY SAID, NO
EVERYONE CAN GO.
AND I WAS VERY EXCITED, AND I
HAVE THIS GREAT ROOM
I REMEMBER THINKING, WOW
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE WERE
THIS BIG TIME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Reporter: DINNERS WERE
SUMPTUOUS AFFAIRS AT FANCY
RESTAURANTS.
ED HIRED A LOCAL FIXER TO HELP,
A MAN WHO WENT BY THE NAME
JOHNNY VEGAS
HIS SPECIALTY?
HIRING GUESTS FOR EVENTS
>> INVITED GIRLS
>> YEAH.
HE WOULD HIRE --
>> SOUNDS NICE, HUH?
>> THESE PLAYMATES TO --
TO JOIN THESE DINNERS THAT WE
WOULD HAVE WITH INVESTORS AND
OUR CLIENTS.
>> Reporter: ONE PARTICULAR
DINNER TURNED VERY STRANGE WHEN
PAUL NOTICED JUST WHO HAD JOINED
THE PARTY.
>> I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER AT
FIRST WHEN SHE ENTERED THE ROOM.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN IT
CLICKED.
THIS HAD TO BE HER
HE WAS LOOKING STRAIGHT AT
TIFFANY, THE WOMAN WHO HAD TAKEN
OFF WITH HIS BROTHER FOUR MONTHS
EARLIER.
>> I SAT RIGHT NEXT TO HER CAUSE
I WAS SO EXCITED TO TALK TO HER.
>> YEAH.
>> AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW,
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN WITH MY
BROTHER?
>> Reporter: PAUL ASKED, ARE YOU
TIFFANY TAYLOR
SHE SAID SHE WAS
NOW, HE WAS GUSHING WITH
QUESTIONS.
>> WHERE'S MY BROTHER?
HOW WAS IT
HOW WAS THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS?
AND I ASKED HER THAT, AND SHE
JUST LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS
CRAZY.
IT WAS A WEIRD FEELING
>> LIKE YOU WERE CRAZY
>> YEAH.
LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT?
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
AND SHE LOOKED AT HER -- THE
OTHER FRIEND THAT SHE HAD WITH
HER AND THEY BOTH JUST -
>> LIKE YOU WERE CRAZY
>> LIKE I WAS CRAZY, YEAH.
LIKE, WHAT IS THIS GUY TALKING
ABOUT?
>> Reporter: HE WAS TOTALLY
BAFFLED, AND THEN HE CAUGHT
SOMEONE ELSE'S EYE
>> AND I LOOKED UP AT ED, AND HE
LOOKED AT ME, AND JUST SHOOK HIS
HEAD, LIKE THAT WASN'T THE GIRL.
>> OH.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIFFANY
TAYLOR, BUT I WAS SURE IT WAS
THE SAME GIRL.
>> A DIFFERENT TIFFANY TAYLOR?
>> THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME, BUT
IT WAS THE SAME GIRL THAT WAS IN
THAT PICTURE ON THE EMAIL.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK AFTER
THAT
>> SOMETHING'S ROTTEN IN
DENMARK.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE, BUT YET, YOU KNOW, I
DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO TAKE THE
THOUGHTS
I MEAN, WHAT WAS THE
ALTERNATIVE?
>> Reporter: IT WAS POSSIBLE,
CERTAINLY, THAT PAUL HAD GOTTEN
IT ALL WRONG ABOUT TIFFANY
BUT THEN, HE COULDN'T REALLY
DWELL ON IT, EITHER.
NOT WHEN THE NEXT SERIES OF
E-MAILS ARRIVED.
CHRIS HAD LONG SINCE LEFT SOUTH
AMERICA FOR EUROPE, AND THEN
INDIA, AND THEN AFRICA
HIS E-MAILS REFLECTED A MAN, NOT
ON VACATION, BUT IN TURMOIL.
ANGRY AT EVERYONE.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN HE GETS INTO
TALKING ABOUT THIS HAS BEEN THE
WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE.
I'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF
STRESSES IN MY LIFE.
I'VE CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE, DRUG
ABUSE.
>> YEAH, IT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS
UNRAVELING OR SOMETHING.
>> IT DID.
BUT ALSO, HE CONTEMPLATED
SUICIDE.
HE SEEMED TO BE BLAMING YOU
GUYS
UH-HUH
>> RIGHT
>> UH-HUH.
CHILDHOOD, THEN TRYING TO
TURN -- SWITCHING IT AROUND TO
US AGAIN
>> WHAT IS THAT LIKE, THOUGH,
WHEN YOU GET AN EMAIL LIKE THAT?
>> YOU FEEL SICK IN YOUR
STOMACH.
WHAT IS HE -- I THOUGHT I
PROVIDED A REALLY GREAT
CHILDHOOD FOR THEM AND STUFF
LIKE THAT.
AND JUST WHAT WAS HE ANGRY
ABOUT?
>> Reporter: ALL THROUGH THE
FALL OF 2010, CHRIS SEEMED TO BE
ON EDGE.
BUT THEN, IN DECEMBER, SIX
MONTHS INTO HIS UNPREDICTABLE
VOYAGE, HE'D PULLED HIMSELF OUT
OF HIS FUNK.
HE EMAILED PAUL THAT HE WANTED
TO START A NEW SOFTWARE
BUSINESS, A LITTLE CLOSER TO
HOME
>> MEET ME THERE IN FEBRUARY, SO
WE CAN SURF AND TALK ABOUT
EVERYTHING
I HAVE SOME INSANE IDEAS ABOUT
THE PLATFORM I CAME UP WITH.
>> THERE WERE A COUPLE OF IDEAS.
ONE WAS YOU WERE TO GO AND MEET
HIM IN COSTA RICA OR SOMETHING
>> RIGHT
>> START A BUSINESS THERE?
>> YEAH.
>> MAKE LOTS OF MONEY?
>> RIGHT
YEAH, AND IT WAS AT A LOCATION
THAT ONLY HIM AND I HAD TALKED
ABOUT.
SO YEAH, WANTING TO -- ME TO
BRING MY FAMILY DOWN TO COSTA
RICA
SO I -- YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS
IMAGE THAT HE'S JUST OUT, YOU
KNOW, LIVING -- LIVING LIFE.
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, THERE
WAS A CATCH.
CHRIS WAS STILL IN AFRICA, AND
LEFT, HE NEEDED TO TRAVEL DEEP
INTO THE CONTINENT FOR WHAT
SOUNDED LIKE A VERY SHADY
BUSINESS DEAL, AND A DANGEROUS
TRIP
NOW HIS FAMILY WAS REALLY
WORRIED.
>>> COMING UP --
>> MY GUT INSTINCT TOLD ME
SOMETHING WAS REALLY, REALLY
WRONG.
>> I CONTACTED THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
>> Reporter: CHRIS SMITH TOLD
HIS FAMILY HE HAD ONE MORE THING
TO DO IN AFRICA.
A DICEY PLAN IN POTENTIALLY
DANGEROUS PLACES
HE WAS GOING TO SELL HIS
KRUGERRANDS, THAT GOLD HE
INVESTED IN, TO HELP FINANCE HIS
NEXT BUSINESS VENTURE.
AND ON DECEMBER 26, 2010, CHRIS
SENT THIS EMAIL TO HIS BROTHER
PAUL
"I'M HEADED BACK UP THROUGH THE
CONGO.
I FOUND A DEALER IN RWANDA THAT
WILL PAY 30% MARKUP ON KRUG'S.
ONLY OUT HERE IS THIS [ BLEEP
LIKE REAL CURRENCY."
>> HE WAS GONNA HEAD BACK UP
INTO RWANDA AND EXCHANGE SOME
GOLD KRUGERRANDS THAT HE WAS
CARRYIN' IN HIS POCKET, FOR
CASH
>> Reporter: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
PRETTY FOOLHARDY THING TO DO
>> YEAH.
AT THAT POINT, I WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, HE'S LOST HIS MARBLES."
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING
SOMETHING THAT YOU HOPE IT'S NOT
STARTS TO COME TO THE DOOR OF
YOUR MIND.
AND IT'S -- YOU DON'T WANNA LET
IT IN.
>> Reporter: NO?
WHY?
>> BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S AN ABYSS
AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE
EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER WILL
TAKE YOU
>> Reporter: BY THAT TIME, THE
WHOLE FAMILY STARTED FEELING THE
SAME WAY
A FOREBODING SENSE OF DREAD.
ALL ALONG, CHRIS' MOM HAD BEEN
SENDING HIM E-MAILS, URGING HER
SON "BE CAREFUL.
>> WE STILL LOVE YOU, AND DON'T
DO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, AND WE
JUST KEPT SAYING HOW MUCH WE ALL
MISS HIM, BUT MY GUT INSTINCT
TOLD ME SOMETHING WAS REALLY,
REALLY WRONG
SO, AND THEN THEY ENDED THERE.
>> Reporter: ENDED
THE E-MAILS STOPPED AFTER SIX
MONTHS
CHRIS WENT TOTALLY SILENT.
>> WHEN WE STOPPED GETTING
E-MAILS, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT
HE -- HE HAD BEEN MUGGED, HE'D
BEEN KILLED.
>> KILLED.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S WHAT
HAPPENS COMMONLY, PROBABLY, DOWN
THERE.
YOU'RE WALKING AROUND WITH GOLD
IN YOUR POCKET, YOU KNOW, HE
PROBABLY GOT MUGGED AND KILLED
>> Reporter: CHRIS' MOM SCOURED
THE INTERNET, HOPING A SATELLITE
MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF
HER GLOBE-TROTTING SON
>> I WOULD GO DOWN ON GOOGLE
EARTH TO EVERY KIND OF VIDEO
THAT THEY HAD THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN AROUND TO SEE IF THERE'S A
GLIMPSE OF HIM WALKING AROUND.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST DESPERATE.
>> Reporter: BY MARCH 2011, IT
HAD BEEN NINE MONTHS SINCE
ANYONE HAD SEEN CHRIS.
AND CHRIS' FATHER, STEVE, THE
EX-POLICE OFFICER, DECIDED IT
WAS TIME TO START HIS OWN
INVESTIGATION.
>> I CONTACTED THE U.S
DEPARTMENT OF STATE MISSING
PERSONS OVERSEAS
AND I SUBMITTED ALL OUR E-MAILS
TO THEM SHOWIN' HIS TRACKING,
GOIN' AROUND SOUTH AMERICA, BACK
UP, CROSSING OVER TO INDIA AND
BACK DOWN TO AFRICA, AND
STARTIN' A WAY BACK UP TO THE
CONGO.
>> Reporter: STEVE WAS HOPING
THE STATE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE
ABLE TO TRACK CHRIS DOWN BY
SEEING WHERE HE HAD LAST USED
HIS PASSPORT
A FEW WEEKS LATER, A GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL CALLED BACK WITH SOME
DISTURBING FINDINGS.
>> HE FELT IN HIS OPINION AND
THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S THAT --
CHRIS HAD NEVER LEFT THE UNITED
STATES
>> Reporter: NEVER LEFT THE
UNITED STATES?
IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.
STEVE'S NEXT MOVE WAS TO TAKE
HIS OWN TRIP
HE TRAVELED FROM HIS HOME IN
BEND, OREGON, TO LAGUNA BEACH,
CALIFORNIA, WHERE CHRIS LIVED.
HE WAS HOPING PEOPLE, LIKE
CHRIS' EX-BUSINESS PARTNER, ED
SHIN, MIGHT HAVE SOME VALUABLE
INFORMATION.
>> DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIM
HE GAVE ALL TYPES OF INFORMATION
OUT, BUT THE MAIN PART I WAS
LOOKIN' FOR IS TRYIN' TO FIND MY
SON.
AND HE RELATED TO ME THAT CHRIS
HAD GOTTEN A FALSE PASSPORT.
>> Reporter: HE USED A FALSE
PASSPORT
>> CORRECT
>> THAT'S WHAT ED SAID
CHRIS GOT A FAKE PASSPORT, LEFT
THE COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: NO CONTACT WITH HIS
SON, A PASSPORT THAT NEVER LEFT
THE COUNTRY.
AND NOW, A FAKE PASSPORT
DESPERATE FOR HELP, STEVE WENT
TO THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO FILE A MISSING
PERSON REPORT.
>> AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE IT
>> Reporter: WHY
>> THEY SAID I NEEDED TO REPORT
IT TO MY OWN CITY OF BEND,
BUT -- EVENTUALLY THEY DID TAKE
THE REPORT WHEN I SUBMITTED IT
>> Reporter: AFTER GETTING THE
RUN AROUND, IT SEEMED TO STEVE,
FINALLY, THAT SOMEONE WAS TRULY
GOING TO INVESTIGATE CHRIS'
DISAPPEARANCE.
TAKE ON THE CASE
SURELY, THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE
WOULD GET SOME ANSWERS
>>> COMING UP --
>> I WIRED SOME MONEY TO INDIA
>> POLICE TURN TO CHRIS'
BUSINESS PARTNER ED.
COULD HE HELP SOLVE THIS
MYSTERY?
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK CHRIS IS
>> I DONT KNOW WHERE HE IS
I MEAN, HONESTLY, I THINK HE'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE SPRING
OF 2011.
ALMOST A YEAR SINCE CHRIS SMITH
HAD LEFT HIS FAMILY, THE WOMAN
HE WAS IN LOVE WITH, AND HIS OLD
LIFE WAY BEHIND.
CHRIS'S DAD, STEVE, HAD FILED A
MISSING PERSON REPORT WITH THE
LAGUNA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
MAYBE LAGUNA DETECTIVES COULD
FIGURE OUT WHERE CHRIS WAS
>> I'M HOPING YOU CAN GIVE ME
THE DETAILS --
>> OKAY.
>> -- AS TO HOW THIS ALL
STARTED.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS EARLY
JUNE, LAGUNA COPS HAD LOOKED UP
CHRIS' BUSINESS PARTNER, ED
SHIN
MAYBE HE KNEW WHERE CHRIS WENT
ED TOLD THEM HOW THEY'D GONE
INTO BUSINESS TOGETHER
>> AND IT WORKED, IT WORKED
GREAT.
I MEAN, WE MADE A LOT OF MONEY,
MADE A LOT OF --
>> WHAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, OUT OF
CURIOSITY?
>> YOU KNOW, FIRST 5 MONTHS WE
WERE IN BUSINESS, WE MADE, LIKE,
A MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE
AND, LIKE -- AND THEN THE THIRD
YEAR WE DID, LIKE, 5 TO
8 MILLION.
>> Reporter: BUT BY THE SUMMER
OF 2010, ED SAID CHRIS WANTED
OUT.
>> HE WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT,
LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAKING A BUNCH
OF MONEY AND TAKING OFF WITH IT.
SO, HE WANTED TO GO TO LIKE
COSTA RICA PERMANENTLY
>> Reporter: AND ED WANTED TO
HELP HIS FRIEND AND PARTNER, SO
HE MADE HIM THAT OFFER, WHICH
WAS FRANKLY, TOUGH TO REFUSE
>> I'LL BUY YOU OUT OF YOUR
PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'LL TALK,
WHATEVER, A MILLION DOLLARS, AND
YOU GO DO WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.
GO TRAVEL THE WORLD.
>> Reporter: ED SAID HE'D PAY
CHRIS $250,000 IN GOLD COINS AND
HE'D WIRE HIM ANOTHER
$250 THOUSAND IN MONTHLY
INSTALLMENTS
AND IF THEY EVER SOLD THE
COMPANY, ED WOULD WIRE CHRIS
ANOTHER $500,000
TRULY A MILLION-DOLLAR PAYOUT.
AND WHY DID CHRIS SUDDENLY
LEAVE?
ED HAD A THEORY.
>> AND HE WAS REALLY BIG INTO,
UH, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC
COLLAPSE OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND THE NEED TO BE OUTTA HERE,
AND HE WAS REALLY INTO
CONSPIRACY THEORIES, WHERE ONLY
A FEW PEOPLE CONTROL EVERYTHING.
>> YEAH, AND WE'RE ALL JUST
PUPPETS, KINDA DEAL.
>> Reporter: AND, ED SAID, CHRIS
HAD A DARKER SIDE.
>> YOU KNOW, HE DRANK PRETTY
MUCH ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.
>> Reporter: ED TOLD THEM CHRIS
DRANK AND WORKED LATE INTO THE
NIGHT WRITING THE COMPANY'S
RADIO ADS AND TV ADS
AND HE ADDED IN SLEEPING PILLS
AND EVEN HARDER DRUGS, TO
INSPIRE CREATIVITY, APPARENTLY
>> HIS BIG JOKE WAS THAT, "I
WROTE THIS SCRIPT WHILE I WAS ON
LUNESTA AND I DID A BUMP."
AND I GUESS A BUMP MEANS, LIKE,
A BUMP OF COCAINE.
>> Reporter: ED SAID CHRIS WOULD
SOMETIMES GO ON BENDER-LIKE
SHIFTS
>> HE WOULD GO ON THESE WORK
BINGES FOR LIKE FOUR, FIVE DAYS
AND HE'D CRASH
>> Reporter: IN EARLY JUNE,
2010, CHRIS WAS PLANNING HIS
TRIP
STILL WORKING AT THE OFFICE, AND
ACCORDING TO ED, COMING APART AT
THE SEAMS.
ED SAID HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE
EARLY ON FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE
4th AND DISCOVERED A MESS.
>> THE PLACE SMELLED LIKE -- AND
VOMIT.
I SAID, WHAT WERE YOU DOING?
HE'S LIKE, WELL, I WAS WRITING A
SCRIPT ALL NIGHT
I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW -- DO YOU
KNOW YOU TRASHED THE OFFICE?
AND HE WAS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU
MEAN
AND SO, HE HAD COMPLETELY
BLACKED OUT.
AND HE HAD BROKEN BOTTLES, LIKE
HE BROKE A COUPLE BOTTLES OF
WINE
>> IT SMELLS HORRIBLE.
THE CARPETS ARE WET.
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA GRIES SAW
THE PLACE WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO
WORK
IT WAS CLEANED UP BY THEN,
EXCEPT FOR THE STAIN OUTSIDE
CHRIS' OFFICE.
>> WE THOUGHT MAYBE CHRIS GOT
TOO CRAZY ONE NIGHT AND VOMITED
ON THE CARPET RIGHT BY HIS
OFFICE
>> Reporter: THE MAN WAS A MESS.
SO ED SAID HE TOOK CHRIS OFF TO
VEGAS FOR THE WEEKEND, TO
DECOMPRESS, AND SO THEY COULD
GIVE THEMSELVES SOME TIME TO
FINALIZE THEIR DEAL AND SAY
GOOD-BYE
>> WE JUST SAID WE WOULD GO TO
VEGAS TO PARTY AND KIND OF JUST,
LIKE, LOOSEN IT OUT.
OR LOOSEN UP AND KIND OF WORK IT
OUT.
>> OKAY.
AND THEN YOU GUYS WERE BACK IN
THE OFFICE ON MONDAY
>> WE DROVE BACK, YEAH
>> Reporter: LATER THAT MONDAY,
JUNE 7th, ED SAID HE WENT OVER
TO CHRIS' APARTMENT, SEPARATION
AGREEMENT IN HAND.
>> AND THEN, UH, I WENT BY THERE
IN THE AFTERNOON TO SIGN IT.
>> THE AGREEMENT
>> YEP, AND I TOOK IT BACK
I LEFT HIM HIS COPY AND, YOU
KNOW, WE SHOOK HANDS, HUGGED,
AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
DO
HE'S LIKE, I'M GONNA TAKE OFF.
>> Reporter: LAGUNA BEACH POLICE
ALREADY HEARD CHRIS HADN'T USED
HIS PASSPORT, AND ABOUT USING A
FAKE PASSPORT, BUT THEY WANTED
TO KNOW WHY.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY
THIS GUY DECIDES TO, I'M GONNA
LEAVE THE COUNTRY, BUT I'M NOT
GONNA USE MY OWN PASSPORT?
>> Reporter: ED TOLD THE
DETECTIVES, CHRIS JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BE FOUND
>> WE -- WHEN WE WERE IN VEGAS,
HE MET WITH A GUY, WELL, IT WAS
LIKE A MUTUAL GUY THAT I KNEW.
>> THE JOHNNY VEGAS GUY?
>> YEAH, HE --
>> SO, WE KNOW WHO JOHNNY VEGAS
IS
>> Reporter: JOHNNY VEGAS --
THAT FIXER ED SHIN USED IN LAS
VEGAS TO GREASE THE WHEELS ON
HIS TRIPS TO THE CASINOS
ED SAID CHRIS WAS NOW THE ONE
ASKING JOHNNY FOR SOME FAVORS.
>> HE ASKED HIM STUFF LIKE, HOW
COULD I GET A PASSPORT
AND ALL THIS STUFF
AND HE GAVE HIM A NUMBER
>> WERE YOU WITH HIM WHEN HE
PICKED UP THE PASSPORT
>> YES
>> AND THAT HAPPENED WHERE
>> IN L.A.
>> Reporter: IN LOS ANGELES,
JUST BEFORE CHRIS TOOK OFF, GOLD
IN HAND, FOR PARTS UNKNOWN
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, ED
SAID HE HEARD FROM CHRIS, ALWAYS
BY EMAIL, AND HE REGULARLY WIRED
CHRIS HIS MONEY.
>> I WIRED SOME MONEY TO INDIA
HE'D SAVED ALL THE RECORDS
>> THERE'S WIRE TRANSFERS THAT
BASICALLY WOULD DOCUMENT THE
FACT THAT YOU MADE THESE
PAYMENTS TO HIM?
>> YES
>> Reporter: ED TOLD THE
DETECTIVES HE'D GET THEM COPIES
OF EVERYTHING, E-MAILS, WIRE
TRANSFERS, THAT AGREEMENT
LETTER
BUT IN THE END HE WASN'T ABLE TO
SHED VERY MUCH LIGHT ON THE
CASE
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK CHRIS IS
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS.
I MEAN, HONESTLY, I THINK HE'S
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
>> I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO TELL
HIS DAD, IF LIKE HE'S OUT OF THE
COUNTRY, THEN THERE IS NOTHING I
CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
BUT, I CAN'T FLY TO BALI
>> THIS IS GONNA BE AN OPEN CASE
UNTIL WE HEAR FROM HIM
>> Reporter: THE LAGUNA BEACH
POLICE JUST COULDN'T SEEM TO
FIND CHRIS
BUT WHAT IS IT THEY SAY?
THE BEST DETECTIVE IS LUCK
>>> COMING UP --
>> BASICALLY WE KINDA STUMBLED
ACROSS THIS CASE
>> ENTER A PRIVATE DETECTIVE
WITH SOME QUESTIONS OF HIS OWN
DID SOMETHING SEEM FISHY ABOUT
ALL THOSE E-MAILS?
>> AND YOU'RE STARTING TO THINK,
>> Reporter: IT'S ONE OF THE
CURIOUS THINGS ABOUT LIFE.
THE WAY A MERE COINCIDENCE CAN
CHANGE THINGS.
>> BASICALLY, WE KINDA STUMBLED
ACROSS THIS CASE
>> Reporter: SOMEBODY CALLED YOU
UP AND SAID, "LOOK INTO THOSE
PEOPLE DOWN THE HALL."
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: JOE DALU IS A
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR AND FORMER
DETECTIVE.
IN APRIL 2011, JOE AND HIS
PARTNER HAD JUST OPENED AN
OFFICE IN THIS COMPLEX SOUTH OF
LAGUNA BEACH
A CLIENT WALKED IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS LATER.
>> A PROPERTY MANAGER CAME INTO
OUR OFFICE
THEY REALIZED WE'RE AN
INVESTIGATIVE COMPANY.
AND ASKED US IF WE DO SKIP
TRACING WORK, LOCATING PEOPLE.
WE SAID, "SURE."
>> Reporter: IT TURNED OUT, THE
800 EXCHANGE OFFICE WAS -- OR AT
LEAST HAD BEEN -- PRACTICALLY
NEXT DOOR TO DALU'S OFFICE
A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE, THE
WHOLE COMPANY LEFT FOR PARTS
UNKNOWN AND LEFT BEHIND A BUNDLE
OF UNPAID RENT
>> Reporter: SO THE LANDLORD IS
KINDA UPSET?
>> YES
>> Reporter: THE LANDLORD HIRED
THE P.I.s TO FIND 800 EXCHANGE
AND SEE IF THEY COULD FIND THAT
RENT MONEY
SO PRESUMABLY YOU GOTTA FIND OUT
ABOUT THESE PEOPLE
WHAT DO YOU DO
>> SO WE START OFF WITH DATABASE
SEARCHES, RUNNING THEIR NAME,
FINDING LAST-KNOWN ADDRESSES,
FIND OUT ANY ASSETS THEY MAY
HAVE
>> Reporter: THE COMPANY WASN'T
HARD TO FIND
IT WAS A FEW MILES UP THE
FREEWAY IN ANOTHER OFFICE PARK
BY JULY, DALU AND HIS PARTNER
WERE BONING UP ON THE COMPANY,
LOOKING FOR THE ASSETS, TRYING
TO FIND THAT RENT MONEY, WHEN
THE PROPERTY MANAGER WALKED BACK
INTO THEIR OFFICE.
HE SAID LAGUNA BEACH POLICE
DETECTIVES HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR
800 XCHANGE, TOO
>> WE ASKED WHY.
HE SAYS, "WELL, CHRIS SMITH IS
MISSING.
AND THEN WE LEARNED THAT CHRIS
WAS BOUGHT OUT OF HIS SHARE OF
THE COMPANY, TOOK HIS, YOU KNOW,
EARNINGS AND JUST SAILED AROUND
THE WORLD.
>> Reporter: HE WANTED TO KNOW
MORE ABOUT CHRIS' DISAPPEARING
ACT, SO HE CONTACTED CHRIS'
FATHER, STEVE.
STEVE FILLED HIM IN ABOUT HIS
SON'S ESCAPE FROM THE RAT RACE
>> AND HE TOLD ME, HE GOES,
"LOOK, AFTER THIS BUYOUT FROM ED
SHIN, CHRIS WAS EMAILING US.
HE WAS JUST -- HE COULDN'T TAKE
THE STRESS, AND HE JUST WANTED A
BREAK.
>> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN A YEAR
SINCE CHRIS HAD DISAPPEARED.
DALU FOUND OUT ABOUT THE MISSING
PERSONS REPORT CHRIS' FAMILY HAD
FILED.
SO BY THE TIME YOU GOT INTO THE
CASE, THEY WERE ALREADY WORRIED,
CONCERNED?
>> YES
BUT I THINK THERE WAS A SENSE OF
HOPE
THEY WERE -- THEY WERE CURIOUS
>> Reporter: BUT CHRIS' DAD,
STEVE, TOLD DALU -
>> "HE WAS AT LEAST
COMMUNICATING WITH US.
AND I ASKED HIM HOW.
HE SAID, "BY EMAIL."
AND I SAID, "WELL, DO YOU KNOW
IT'S HIM?"
HE SAID, "THERE'S JUST THINGS IN
THE EMAIL THAT WOULD -- NO ONE
ELSE WOULD KNOW.
SO I ASKED HIM IF I COULD TAKE A
LOOK AT THOSE E-MAILS.
>> Reporter: HE STARTED POURING
OVER ALL OF CHRIS' COMMUNICATION
FROM HIS GLOBE-TROTTING VOYAGE
IT'S KINDA LIKE A TRAVELOGUE,
RIGHT?
"ISLANDS WE'VE SAILED AROUND ARE
AMAZING.
>> YES
"JUST DOCKED IN PORT OF
ARGENTINA.
>> Reporter: THE E-MAILS WERE
LIKE PICTURE POSTCARDS IN PROSE,
FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT DALU THOUGHT SOMETHING
DIDN'T SMELL RIGHT
WHAT INTRIGUED YOU ABOUT THEM?
>> I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT STRUCK ME ODD WAS THAT THE
WRITER WAS TRYING TOO HARD TO
MAKE THE RECEIVER BELIEVE THAT,
"THIS IS ME.
THIS IS CHRIS.
>> Reporter: TAKE THIS EMAIL
FROM OCTOBER, 2010
CHRIS WROTE TO HIS DAD, "I CAN'T
CALL YOU FROM MUMBAI
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN MEET ME
IN YOUR HOMETOWN IN AUSTRIA
SOMETIME IN JANUARY?
>> AND IT WAS -- IT WAS ALMOST
LIKE, "WELL, HIS DAD KNOWS WHERE
HE GREW UP
HIS DAD KNOWS WHERE THIS IS.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
YOU WOULDN'T -- YOU WOULDN'T
SAY, "TO YOUR HOMETOWN."
>> YEAH, I THINK THE NORMAL
THING THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SAY
WOULD BE-- "HEY, LET'S -- I WANT
TO GO BACK TO WHERE YOU -- WHERE
YOU GREW UP.
>> Reporter: AND REMEMBER HOW
CHRIS' DAD, FEELING A BIT
WORRIED, SENT THOSE TEST
QUESTIONS TO HIS SON
"WHAT LAKE DID YOU USED TO LIVE
ON
AND WHAT TYPE BOAT DID YOU SKI
BEHIND?"
>> THERE'S SOME DOUBT ABOUT WHO
HE WAS TALKING TO.
THERE'S ONLY A FEW PEOPLE THAT
WOULD KNOW THAT, OBVIOUSLY, HIS
FAMILY AND CHRIS
>> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY STEVE
WAS RELIEVED WHEN CHRIS
RESPONDED THAT THEY LIVED ON
KELLY LAKE
EXCEPT STEVE HAD ASKED HIS SON
TWO QUESTIONS -- THE NAME OF
THEIR LAKE AND THE KIND OF BOAT
THEY HAD
AND DALU NOTICED, AND HIS COP
SENSE WAS TINGLING
>> AND I THOUGHT, "WAIT, HE
ANSWERED THE LAKE QUESTION
BUT HE NEVER ANSWERED THE TYPE
OF BOAT.
AND THAT BOTHERED ME
>> Reporter: AND THEN, DALU READ
THIS E-MAIL THAT CHRIS SENT TO
HIS BROTHER, PAUL, AFTER HIS DAD
HAD ASKED HIM THOSE QUESTIONS.
AND THE PENNY DROPPED.
"WHAT WAS THE MODEL OF OUR BOAT
THAT WE GREW UP RIDING ON?
>> AND PAUL REPLIED BACK
AND THEN I THOUGHT, "THIS IS IT.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
>> Reporter: DALU NOW KNEW IT
WAS NOT CHRIS SMITH WRITING
THOSE E-MAILS.
>> IT DOES GET A LITTLE CREEPY
AT THAT POINT.
BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE STARTIN' TO
THINK, "WHO IS THIS PERSON?"
"IF THIS ISN'T CHRIS, THEN WHO
IS IT?
>> Reporter: OH, BOY
>>> COMING UP -- A DISTURBING
DISCOVERY IN CHRIS' OFFICE
>> I LOOKED AT THE LIGHT SWITCH.
AND THERE WAS -- WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS BLOOD.
IT WAS RED, DARK RED
>>> PRIVATE EYE JOE DALU WAS SO
INTRIGUED BY THE MYSTERY OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO CHRIS SMITH THAT HE
WENT TO WORK ON IT PRO BONO.
HE KNEW LAGUNA BEACH POLICE HAD
WENT TO WORK ON A MISSING
PERSONS CASE
SO HE WENT TO THE PROPERTY
MANAGER.
>> WE ASKED IF THE OFFICE WAS
STILL VACANT AND THEY SAID, YES,
CAN AND LOOKED AT MY PARTNER AND
I SAID CAN WE GO IN AND LOOK,
AND THEY SAID SURE
THEY OPENED IT UP.
EVERYTHING WAS EMPTY
>> THIS IS THE OLD 800 EXCHANGE
SPACE.
>> CHRIS' DESK WAS HERE.
>> OKAY.
>> THERE WAS A CREDENZA BEHIND
HIM.
>> SOON DALU STARTED TO NOTICE
THINGS, A STAIN BY CHRIS' OLD
OFFICE
>> THERE WAS A WHITE POWDERY
SUBSTANCE COMING THROUGH THE
GROUND AND SEEPING THROUGH THE
CARPET WHICH MY PARTNER
IDENTIFIED AS LIKE A SULFUR.
>> LIKE A SALT STAIN ON THE
CARPET
>> YES
>> DALU TOOK A PICTURE OF IT AND
THOUGHT SOME SORT OF HEAVY
CHEMICAL CLEANER HAD BEEN USED
ON THE SPOT.
>> DALU TOOK A PICTURE OF IT AND
THOUGHT SOME SORT OF HEAVY
CHEMICAL CLEANER HAD BEEN USED
ON THE SPOT.
BUT OF COURSE, ED SHIN SAID
CHRIS THREW UP ON THE CARPET
AFTER A DRUNKEN BINGE AT THE
OFFICE
SO, THAT MADE SOME SENSE
BUT DALU WAS AN OBSERVANT TYPE
ALL EYES AND -- AND WHAT DO YOU
KNOW
>> WHEN I STEPPED IN, I LOOKED
AT THE LIGHT SWITCH -- AND IT
WAS WHITE -- AND THERE WAS A
BLOOD SMEAR, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS
BLOOD.
IT WAS RED, DARK RED
>> WHAT APPEARED TO BE BLOOD ON
THE LIGHT SWITCH
>> YES
>> AND THEN ON THE DOOR FRAME.
>> WHEN YOU SAW THAT, WHAT'S THE
FIRST THING THAT OCCURRED TO
YOU?
>> THAT IT WAS -- IT WASN'T JUST
A MISSING PERSON'S
SOMETHING SERIOUSLY HAPPENED TO
CHRIS.
>> DALU CALLED THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE
>> SO YOU FIND OUT, FROM JOE
DALU, ABOUT SOME WEIRD THING
GOIN' ON
>> YEAH, I DID
HE SAID HE SAW S -- WHAT HE
THOUGHT MIGHT BE BLOOD ON THE
DOOR JAMB, INSIDE -- INSIDE THE
OFFICE
SO -
>> THAT'LL GET YOUR ATTENTION.
>> IT GOT MY ATTENTION
>> SERGEANTS DON VOGHT AND RAY
WERT, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT
FIRST THING TO DO -- SEND SOME
TECHS OVER TO TAKE A GOOD CLOSE
LOOK AROUND THE OLD 800XCHANGE
OFFICE
THAT'S WHEN THEY STARTED FINDING
MORE SUSPICIOUS SPOTS.
ON SOME CEILING TILES, BEHIND
SOME MOLDING
THEY PULLED UP CARPET AND FOUND
DARK-COLORED STAINS ON THE
CONCRETE UNDERNEATH.
>> THE SPOTS TESTED POSITIVE FOR
HUMAN BLOOD.
'COURSE -- COULD HAVE BEEN
ANYBODY'S BLOOD.
EVEN ANOTHER TENANT.
>> WE GOT BLOOD IN THE OFFICE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHOSE IT IS.
SO -
>> AND HE HASN'T BEEN AROUND FOR
OVER A YEAR.
>> CORRECT
>> OF COURSE, SINCE CHRIS WASN'T
AROUND, THERE WASN'T A BLOOD
SAMPLE TO COMPARE IT TO. BUT
MAYBE CHRIS'S FAMILY COULD HELP
WITH THAT.
WITH A DNA SAMPLE.
>> I HAD ALREADY TAKEN A SWAB
TEST
THEY DID BOTH SWABS ON PAUL AND
MY WIFE DEBI
>> MEANWHILE, P.I. DALU REMAINED
DEEPLY INVESTED IN FINDING OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO CHRIS
AFTER THAT BLOOD, SOMEONE'S
BLOOD, WAS FOUND IN THE OFFICE,
HE FELT IT WAS TIME TO HAVE A
HEART-TO-HEART TALK WITH CHRIS'
DAD, STEVE
>> I SAID, "LISTEN
I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO
UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE CHRIS IS
NOT GONNA COME BACK, AND STEVE
WAS JUST QUIET
AND HE CAME BACK AND HE SAID,
"BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT
WE HAVE TO WAIT.
I PROVIDED DNA
LET'S JUST WAIT.
I SAID, "I UNDERSTAND.
WE'LL WAIT
MAYBE CHRIS IS STILL ALIVE."
>> IT'S SORT OF A TOUGH THING
FOR A PARENT
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE
I REALLY CAN'T
>> BUT THEN THE RESULTS CAME IN.
>> WE CONFIRMED THAT ALL THE
BLOOD IN THE CRIME SCENE WAS IN
FACT CHRIS SMITH'S
>> ALL OF IT
>> NOBODY ELSE WAS BLEEDING IN
THERE AT ALL
>> IN THE END IT WAS ALL FROM
ONE PERSON AND IT WAS ONE
PERSON'S DNA
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T HAVE
A BODY, RAY WERT AND DON VOGHT
CAME TO A SOBERING CONCLUSION --
CHRIS HAD TO BE DEAD
STILL, THE SMITH FAMILY WAS JUST
NOT READY, NOT YET, TO ACCEPT
THAT CHRIS MIGHT BE GONE
DID YOU KEEP HOPE ALIVE UNTIL
THEN
>> OH YEAH
JUST -- YOU ALWAYS GOTTA HAVE
HOPE
>> I WAS HOLDIN' OUT FOR HOPE A
LITTLE BIT
BUT IN MY HEART, I FELT THAT
CHRIS HAD PASSED AND GONE TO BE
WITH THE LORD.
BUT THE BACK OF YOUR MIND,
YOU'RE ST -- YEAH, YOU'RE STILL
HOPING THAT YOU'LL SEE YOUR
BROTHER AGAIN.
>> BACK AT THE ORANGE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, A MISSING
PERSON CASE TURNED INTO A
HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
IT WAS UP TO THESE INVESTIGATORS
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO
CHRIS SMITH AND WHY.
>>> COMING UP --
DETECTIVES TALK TO EVERYONE.
CHRIS' GIRLFRIEND.
>> HER HEART HAD BEEN BROKEN
>> HIS BUSINESS PARTNER.
>> HE WAS VERY AGREEABLE TO
HELP
>> A NEW EMPLOYEE.
>> Reporter: DIDN'T HE ACTUALLY
MOVE INTO CHRIS SMITH'S
APARTMENT?
>> HE DID.
>> Reporter: FORENSIC TESTING IS
A LITTLE BIT LIKE TURNING A
LIGHT ON IN A DARKENED ROOM.
THE EMPTY PLACE THAT WAS ONCE
THE HEADQUARTERS OF 800XCHANGE
TOLD AN ENLIGHTENING STORY
CHRIS' BLOOD WAS ALL OVER THE
PLACE.
HIS OFFICE, THE BREAK ROOM,
DOORWAY, HALLWAY
BUT WHAT DID ALL THAT MEAN
AND WHAT EXACTLY WENT ON IN
THERE?
>> CHRIS'S BROTHER WORKED IN
THAT VERY OFFICE
SO HE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE US
WITH VERY INTIMATE DETAILS ABOUT
WHO WAS IN WHAT OFFICE, HOW THE
FURNITURE WAS SET UP BACK THEN
>> WHICH HELPED, AND THEN
INVESTIGATORS CALLED AROUND,
TALKED TO CHRIS'S COLLEAGUES,
THE REST OF HIS FAMILY, HIS
FRIENDS.
>> DID YOU TALK TO CHRIS'
GIRLFRIEND
>> WE BOTH DID, YES.
>> SHE MUST HAVE BEEN A PRETTY
UNHAPPY WOMAN.
>> SHE WAS
HER HEART HAD BEEN BROKEN, AND
SHE WAS DUMPED BY A TEXT
>> Reporter: THEY DIDN'T TELL
HER ABOUT THE BLOOD IN THE
OFFICE AT FIRST.
THEY WANTED HER UNVARNISHED
REACTION TO HER FORMER
BOYFRIEND, THE MAN WHO DUMPED
HER, AND RAN OFF WITH ANOTHER
WOMAN.
>> THEY WERE PRETTY SERIOUS,
FROM EVERYTHING WE HAD LEARNED
AND YEAH, SHE WAS, YOU'D SAY,
SCORNED, ABSOLUTELY.
>> DID SHE SAY NEGATIVE THINGS
ABOUT CHRIS?
>> SHE DID
SHE DID.
SHE TALKED ABOUT SOME TIMES
WHERE HE WOULD BE UPSET.
>> Reporter: THAT'S PERHAPS AN
UNDERSTATEMENT
IN FACT, THE POLICE INTERVIEW
WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRIS'
GIRLFRIEND TO UNLOAD ON HER EX,
AND DID SHE EVER
SHE SAID HE COULD BE PARANOID,
VOLATILE, AND AT TIMES ERRATIC
>> WE TORE THE BANDAGE OFF AN
OLD WOUND.
>> Reporter: AND THE
INVESTIGATORS DECIDED THEY
WANTED TO TALK TO A GUY NAMED
KENNY KRAFT.
CHRISTINA REMEMBERS HE SHOWED UP
AT THE OFFICE AFTER CHRIS
DISAPPEARED.
>> KENNY JUST, KIND OF, NEEDED A
JOB AT THE TIME AND SO HE WAS A
FRIEND, I BELIEVE OF ONE OF THE
OTHER CO-WORKERS THERE, AND ED
GAVE HIM A JOB, AND PUT HIM TO
WORK DOING RANDOM ERRANDS.
>> BUT, HERE'S WHAT INTRIGUED
INVESTIGATORS.
WHILE KENNY DIDN'T KNOW CHRIS,
HE SEEMED TO BE TRYING ON HIS
LIFE
>> DIDN'T HE ACTUALLY MOVE INTO
CHRIS SMITH'S APARTMENT?
>> HE DID.
>> DID YOU SEARCH THAT
APARTMENT?
>> WE DID.
>> YES, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN
THERE.
ALL THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN MOVED
OUT OF THERE OF CHRIS'
>> Reporter: OF COURSE, CHRIS'
EX-BUSINESS PARTNER, ED SHIN,
DREW A LOT OF ATTENTION TOO.
THE INVESTIGATORS LEARNED THAT
ED WAS AN INTERESTING GUY,
AMBITIOUS, OUTGOING BUSINESSMAN.
HE SAILED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO AND
AFTER GRADUATION GOT MARRIED,
HAD FOUR KIDS, WAS A FAITHFUL
CHURCH-GOER.
>> I FELT THAT THE LORD HAD PUT
ED IN MY PATH, SOMEBODY WHO I
COULD HELP AS LIKE A BROTHER
>> Reporter: JOSEPH GRAY MET ED
AT A LOCAL CHURCH.
>> DECIDED TO INVITE MYSELF, ED,
AND ANOTHER GENTLEMEN INTO A
W
WEEKLY, LIKE SMALL MEN'S --
SMALL MEN'S BIBLE STUDY, I GUESS
I'D CALL IT.
WE DID GET CLOSE OVER THE COURSE
OF MONTHS SHARING OUR STRUGGLES.
>> Reporter: IT WAS 2008 AND THE
FINANCIAL MELTDOWN WAS CERTAINLY
IMPACTING PEOPLE LIKE ED, WHO
HAD STARTED HIS OWN SPORTS
MEMORABILIA BUSINESS
SEEING SOMEONE IN NEED, JOSEPH
SAID HE LOANED HIM MONEY, HELPED
HIM GET A HOUSE.
EVEN COUNSELED HIM ABOUT HIS
MARRIAGE
>> I SAW THAT ED'S LIFE WAS
FALLING APART, AND I WAS
STARTING THIS NEW DIVISION OF
OUR COMPANY, AND I THOUGHT I
WOULD GIVE HIM A LIFELINE, AND
INVITE HIM TO COME ONBOARD
>> Reporter: IT WAS AT HIS NEW
JOB THAT ED MET CHRIS.
EVENTUALLY, ED AND CHRIS MADE
SUCH A GOOD TEAM THEY SPUN
OFF --
STARTED THEIR OWN COMPANY,
800XCHANGE
AND ED WAS NOW A BOSS, AND MADE
A QUITE AN IMPRESSION ON
CHRISTINA.
>> JUST A NORMAL YOUNG GUY WHO
WAS SMART AND HAD A GREAT IDEA,
AND WAS GONNA TAKE THIS BUSINESS
SOMEWHERE.
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA ALSO
THOUGHT ED WAS A GREAT DAD
>> HE BROUGHT HIS KIDS BY THE
OFFICE OFTEN, AND SO TO SEE THEM
MADE ME SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, HE
MADE FAMILY A PRIORITY
>> Reporter: SO WELL SPOKEN, SO
EASY THAT WHEN ED SHIN FIRST
PRESENTED HIMSELF TO THE LAGUNA
BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT A YEAR
AFTER CHRIS DISAPPEARED,
INVESTIGATORS SEEMED TO HAVE
SYMPATHY FOR HIM
AFTER ALL, IT WAS CHRIS WHO LEFT
800XCHANGE
>> FOR A GROWN MAN TO DECIDE TO
JUST KINDA WALK AWAY BECAUSE
HE -- HE COULD, BUT REALLY IN --
IN ESSENCE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE HE
LEFT YOU HOLDING THE BAG
>> I COULD'VE USED HIM
>> Reporter: THE ORANGE COUNTY
INVESTIGATORS TOOK A CLOSE LOOK
AT THAT INTERVIEW.
>> ED WAS QUESTIONED
HE HAD ANSWERS
OF THE QUESTIONS HE COULDN'T
ANSWER, HE WAS VERY AGREEABLE TO
HELP IN ANY WAY HE COULD, HE
EXPRESSED THAT
>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK ON MY
E-MAILS TO SEE WHAT E-MAILS I
HAD ON THE 4th, AND I'D BE HAPPY
TO GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU NEED.
>> HE EVEN AGREED TO DO SOME
HOMEWORK THAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM
TO GET SOME MORE MATERIALS
THAT -- THAT LAGUNA BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAD ASKED THEM TO
HE WAS BEING VERY COOPERATIVE.
>> CAN I EMAIL YOU ALL THIS
STUFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: BUT ED SHIN, THE
MAN WHO MADE SUCH A GOOD
IMPRESSION, PRESENTED A GOOD
CASE, HAD A SECRET
LOTS OF SECRETS.
>>> COMING UP --
>> THEY SAW THOUSANDS, TENS OF
THOUSANDS BEING GAMBLED.
>> HIGH STAKES AND RISKY
BUSINESS
ED SHIN WAS A MAN WITH A PAST.
>> I REMEMBER THINKING HE'S NOT
WHO I THOUGHT HE WAS
>> Reporter: WHAT HAPPENS IN
VEGAS STAYS IN VEGAS
ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY SAY
BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR
INVESTIGATORS TO FIND OUT ABOUT
ED SHIN'S VEGAS.
PULL A STRING AND THE THINGS YOU
HEAR
MY, MY
ED SHIN LOVED GOING TO VEGAS
BUT HE DIDN'T JUST PLAY THE
SLOTS OR SPEND AN HOUR OR TWO AT
THE FIVE DOLLAR TABLES
OH NO.
NOT ED SHIN.
YOU SAID HE TRAVELED IN A
PRIVATE PLANE, THAT --
>> THERE WAS TIMES HE DID, YES
>> Reporter: CHRISTINA, THE
800XCHANGE RECEPTIONIST, TOLD
INVESTIGATORS ABOUT ONE OF THE
TIMES THE STAFF WENT ON A
BUSINESS TRIP TO VEGAS WITH ED
>> A ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM TAKES
ME TO A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL.
AND I REMEMBER SEEING ED'S ROOM
THAT HE WAS STAYING IN
JUST THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT ROOM
TWO STORIES, A 24-HOUR BUTLER, A
MASSAGE ROOM, POOL ROOM,
MULTIPLE BEDROOMS, AN ELEVATOR
IT WAS -- IT WAS BEYOND WHAT I
HAD EVER SEEN.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS
LEARNED ED NOT ONLY LIKED
STUNNING HOTEL ROOMS, HE ALSO
LIKED TO KEEP COMPANY WITH
BEAUTIFUL WOMEN.
>> THERE'S A GROUP OF WOMEN THAT
COME DOWN AND THEY'RE AROUND MY
AGE, MAYBE A LITTLE OLDER, MAYBE
A LITTLE YOUNGER AND VERY
SCANTILY DRESSED
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, "OH,
YOU KNOW, IT'S VEGAS
THEY'RE JUST WALKING BY US."
AND THEN I SEE THEM GET IN THE
CAR WITH ED.
>> Reporter: ED TOLD CHRISTINA
HE HIRED THE WOMEN TO BRING
ATTENTION AND POTENTIAL NEW
CLIENTS TO THE COMPANY
AND WHEN IT CAME TO ED SPENDING
MONEY, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS
COMING OUT OF A FIRE HOSE.
>> WE HAD CO-WORKERS TELL US
THAT HE WOULD SIT AT A TABLE FOR
TEN HOURS, AND THEY SAW
THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS
BEING GAMBLED.
>> IT WAS AFTER VEGAS THAT I
REMEMBER WALKING AWAY FROM IT
THINKING HE'S NOT WHO I THOUGHT
HE WAS
>> Reporter: THAT WAS SOMETHING
JOSEPH GRAY FOUND OUT TOO.
REMEMBER, HE MET ED AT CHURCH,
TOOK HIM UNDER HIS WING, GOT HIM
A JOB AT HIS COMPANY, LG
TECHNOLOGIES
AND THEN, ED BETRAYED HIM.
GRAY DISCOVERED ED REPAID HIS
FRIENDSHIP AND GENEROSITY BY
SECRETLY MANIPULATING LG'S BANK
INFORMATION.
>> THIS IS ALL A ELECTRONIC
SYSTEM
SO YOU PUT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN,
THE FUNDS GET TRANSFERRED.
ED WENT IN AND CHANGED THAT
INFORMATION TO HIS OWN PERSONAL
BANK ACCOUNT
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS, HE
STOLE IT, THEN LEFT THE COMPANY
BEFORE LG DISCOVERED THE THEFT
>> SO A YOUNG MAN THAT I HAD
HELPED OUT, ENDED UP ABSCONDING
WITH BETWEEN THE LEADS THAT WE
ASSUME WERE STOLEN AND THE
PHYSICAL FUNDS THAT WERE TAKEN,
JUST SHY OF $2.5 MILLION
>> Reporter: ED PLEADED GUILTY
TO EMBEZZLEMENT AND HE WORKED
OUT A DEAL TO PAY PARTIAL
RESTITUTION.
THAT WAS 2010, WHEN HE AND CHRIS
WERE ALREADY AT 800XCHANGE
THE DEAL
AS LONG AS ED REPAID AS LONG AS
ED REPAID $700,000, HE'D AVOID A
PRISON SENTENCE.
SO ONE BY ONE YOU HAD
ENCOUNTERED THESE PEOPLE WHO HAD
A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ED SHIN THAN
THE ONE HE WOULD LIKE THEM TO
HAVE
>> WE DID.
PEOPLE WHO -- THAT KNEW HIM AND
OTHER PEOPLE WE DID TALK TO
SAID, "YEAH, THERE'S A
DIFFERENT -- THERE'S A DIFFERENT
SIDE TO ED SHIN.
>> Reporter: THE MORE DIGGING
THEY DID, THE MORE INVESTIGATORS
COULD SEE ED WAS LIVING IN A
HOUSE OF CARDS
FALLING DOWN FROM THE WEIGHT OF
HIS OWN MONEY PROBLEMS
THAT'S SOMETHING CHRISTINA SAW
JUST BEFORE SHE QUIT WORKING FOR
800XCHANGE
>> A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM
VENDORS SAYING THEY DIDN'T
RECEIVE PAYMENT, THAT WE OWED
THEM MONEY
AND IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW -- NOT
SMALL AMOUNTS.
I'M TALKING, LIKE, $30,000,
$40,000, $50,000 THAT WE OWED
THESE PEOPLE
>> ED SHIN'S DESPERATE
HE'S GOT A LARGE DEBT THAT HE'S
PAYING OFF BECAUSE OF A CRIMINAL
CASE, AND HE'S GOT A WIFE AND
FOUR KIDS.
>> AND A GAMBLING PROBLEM.
AND THE BIGGEST THING IS ONE OF
OFF, HE'S GOIN' TO PRISON.
>> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS HAD
ED SHIN ON THEIR RADAR
DID HE HAVE SOME IDEA THAT YOU
WERE AFTER HIM
>> I DON'T THINK SO, AT THAT
POINT, NO.
HE HAD NO CLUE THAT WE WERE --
THAT WE WERE LOOKIN' INTO HIM.
>> Reporter: THEN THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE GOT AN URGENT CALL ABOUT
ED FROM THE FEDS
>> WE HAD FLAGGED HIS -- HIS
PASSPORT IN CASE HE WOULD FLEE
THE COUNTRY FOR -- FOR SOME
REASON
AND SURE ENOUGH, WE WERE
NOTIFIED THAT HE WAS BOARDING A
PLANE IN L.A. AND HEADED FOR
CANADA
>> Reporter: ED, IN FACT, HAD
ALREADY BOARDED, AND THE FLIGHT
WAS LITERALLY MINUTES FROM
TAKING OFF
THEY MADE A CALL
ED WAS PULLED FROM THE PLANE
HE WAS STILL ON PROBATION FOR
THE EMBEZZLEMENT CASE.
SO THE INVESTIGATORS COULD PULL
HIM IN FOR AN INTERROGATION.
BUT THEY WEREN'T REALLY
INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT THAT
CASE
>> THERE'S BLOOD IN CHRIS'S
OFFICE
OKAY
>> UH-HUH.
>> WE KNOW THAT.
AND WE KNOW IT'S CHRIS'S BLOOD
>> Reporter: ED TOLD THE
INVESTIGATORS OVER AND OVER, HE
HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE
DISAPPEARANCE OF CHRIS SMITH
>> I DIDN'T KILL HIM
>> DID YOU FIGHT HIM
IN THE OFFICE?
>> NOT PHYSICALLY.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SHOUTING
MATCHES.
>> YOU HAVE NEVER PHYSICALLY
TOUCHED HIM IN A FIT OF ANGER?
>> NO.
>> EVER?
>> NO.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKIN' ABOUT.
HE'S GONE.
I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW
NOTHIN'.
AND THEN RAY TOLD HIM, "WELL,
GUESS WHAT
YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER
OF CHRIS SMITH."
>> Reporter: THEN THEY LEFT THE
ROOM FOR A BIT
LET HIM THINK.
AND WHEN THEY CAME BACK?
ED SHIN HAD A WHOLE NEW STORY.
>>> COMING UP --
>> HE SAID, "WELL, IF I TELL YOU
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, AM I STILL
GOIN' TO JAIL?
>> WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO CHRIS?
>> IT WAS A HARD NIGHT
>> I FELL TO MY KNEES.
HITS YOU RIGHT IN THE GUT.
>> THIS CASE WAS ABOUT GREED AT
ITS MOST DIABOLICAL.
>> Reporter: ED SHIN WAS UNDER
ARREST FOR THE MURDER OF
CHRIS SMITH.
BUT ED WAS INSISTING HE HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
SO INVESTIGATORS LEFT HIM ALONE
TO REFLECT
>> WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM AND
WITHIN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, LESS THAN TEN MINUTES, HE
TOLD ANOTHER DETECTIVE, "HEY,
CAN I TALK TO THEM AGAIN?"
>> YEAH.
NOW, HE WANTS TO TALK.
FIRST WORDS OUT OF HIS MOUTH
WERE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU
GUYS THINK, BUT IT'S NOT
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
HE SAID, "WELL, IF I TELL YOU
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, AM I STILL
GOIN' TO JAIL?
"I DON'T KNOW, ED.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
I HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE TO
SAY.
>> Reporter: HIS STORY, IT WAS
SELF DEFENSE
THE PARANOID, ERRATIC CHRIS
SMITH, HE SAID, HAD FINALLY COME
UNGLUED AND ATTACKED HIM
>> HE GRABBED ME
AND THEN BEFORE I KNEW IT, WE
WERE THROWING BLOWS.
>> Reporter: FINALLY SAID ED,
CHRIS HIT HIS HEAD ON HIS DESK
AND COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR, DEAD
OR AT LEAST, DYING
>> HOW DO YOU THINK HE WAS
PROBABLY DEAD?
THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD OR -
>> THERE WAS SO MUCH BLOOD
>> Reporter: HE INSISTED IT
WASN'T LIKE HE MEANT TO KILL
CHRIS.
BUT IT CERTAINLY CONFIRMED THAT
CHRIS WAS DEAD AND THE FAMILY
HAD TO BE TOLD
>> IT WAS A HARD NIGHT
>> AND THEN WE TOLD PAUL
AND THEN IT WAS A ROUGH THING
FOR YOU.
HE FELL DOWN INTO THE STREET
JUST CRYIN' YOU KNOW
IT WAS AWFUL
>> I FELL TO MY KNEES.
DAD SHOWED UP, AND MOM, AND JUST
CRIED IT OUT IN THE PARKIN' LOT
FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I JUST HAD NEVER FELT THAT
BEFORE
IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY A
HORRIBLE FEELING
YOU KNOW, IT HITS YOU RIGHT IN
THE GUT.
>> Reporter: BUT WHERE WAS
CHRIS'S BODY
IF INVESTIGATORS COULD FIND
THAT, THEY WOULD KNOW EXACTLY
HOW CHRIS DIED
>> I WANNA FIND CHRIS'S BODY
HIS FAMILY WANTS TO FIND HIS
BODY
WE NEED, WE NEED THAT
INFORMATION.
>> I WOULDN'T KNOW
THERE'S NO WAY
I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT
>> Reporter: DIDN'T KNOW, HE
SAID, BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE GOT
RID OF THE BODY.
BUT THEN THE INVESTIGATORS GOT
ED'S PHONE RECORDS
AND WELL, WELL, WHERE WAS ED'S
PHONE DAYS AFTER WHATEVER
HAPPENED BACK IN THE OFFICE?
>> THOSE SAME PHONE RECORDS
SHOWED HIM GOING ALL THE WAY OUT
TO BOULEVARD CALIFORNIA AND
OCOTILLO CALIFORNIA WHICH IS IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT, NEAR
THE MEXICAN BORDER
>> Reporter: HERE IT IS.
VAST, EMPTY, AMONG THE LONELIEST
PLACES IN AMERICA, THE
CALIFORNIA DESERT JUST NORTH OF
THE MEXICAN BORDER
THERE ARE HOLES OUT THERE
SOMEWHERE, EVERY LAWMAN AROUND
KNOWS IT
PLACES WHERE THE BONES OF
TERRIBLE CRIMES LIE UNDER THE
SAND, UNDISCOVERED, THEIR TALES
UNTOLD
IN FACT, ED'S PHONE PINGED OUT
HERE TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE
WEEK AFTER CHRIS DISAPPEARED
TWO TRIPS.
>> TWO TRIPS
AND ONE OF THE TRIPS WAS AT
1:00, 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
>> Reporter: DID YOU BRING IN
CADAVER DOGS AND -
>> WE DID.
>> CADAVER DOGS.
WELL OVER 100 SEARCHERS,
HORSEBACK, MOTORCYCLE, DOGS.
>> ATV
>> Reporter: OUR CAMERAS WERE
THERE, AS SEARCHERS FOUND
NOTHING.
AND OVER THE FOLLOWING YEARS,
THE FAMILY WOULD BEG FOR
INFORMATION FROM ED SHIN AND
HERE AGAIN, NOTHING.
SO WHEN ED FINALLY WENT ON TRIAL
IN #2018 AT THE ORANGE COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT, SEVEN YEARS
AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED FOR
MURDER, PROSECUTOR MATT MURPHY
WAS LOADED FOR BEAR.
AND FOR MURPHY, THIS CASE WAS A
PERFECT FIT.
HE'S A SURFER, TOO
KNOWS CHRIS'S WORLD.
MAYBE EVEN CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF
HIM OUT THERE.
SO, WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT, THIS
CASE
>> THIS CASE WAS ABOUT GREED AT
ITS MOST DIABOLICAL AND BASE
FORM
HE KILLED A REALLY NICE GUY OVER
MONEY SO THAT HE COULD GO
GAMBLING IN VEGAS.
BUT TO THEN ASSUME HIS IDENTITY
ONLINE AND TORTURE HIS FAMILY
LIKE THIS, IT'S AWFUL.
THE EVIDENCE IS GOING TO SHOW
THAT ED SHIN OWED A LOT OF
PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY.
THE EVIDENCE IS GOING TO SHOW
THAT IN TRYING TO LEGALLY
PROTECT HIS OWN FINANCIAL
INTERESTS, CHRIS SMITH BECAME AN
OBSTACLE FOR ED SHIN
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR TOLD
THE JURY THAT CHRIS SUSPECTED
HIS PARTNER WAS STEALING FROM
THEIR COMPANY, WANTED NEW RULES
TO STOP HIM, BUT ED WAS STARVED
FOR CASH AND DESPERATE TO GET
IT
DESPERATE ENOUGH TO KILL
IT WAS THAT BLOOD THAT WAS NEVER
FULLY CLEANED UP, SAID THE
PROSECUTOR, THAT PROVED THE
ATTACK WAS SUDDEN AND VIOLENT.
>> THERE'S BLOOD ON THE CEILING,
BLOOD ON THE CARPET.
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE WALLS
THERE'S BLOOD ON THE FURNITURE
THE EVIDENCE IS GOING TO SHOW,
THAT MAN THERE BEAT OR STABBED
CHRIS SMITH BRUTALLY TO DEATH IN
THAT OFFICE.
>> Reporter: AND THEN THE
PROSECUTOR TOLD THE COURT, ED
GOT BUSY
IT WAS BEGINNING OF A BRAZEN
COVERUP.
ED GOT INTO HIS DEAD PARTNER'S
EMAIL ACCOUNTS, MASQUERADED AS
CHRIS.
AND HIS VERY FIRST EMAIL SENT
MINUTES AFTER THE KILLING WAS TO
A COMPANY LAWYER
>> AT 6:01 THAT NIGHT DID YOU
RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONCERNING WHAT
APPEARED TO BE A CHANGE IN HEART
OR CHANGE IN DIRECTION FROM
MR. SMITH CONCERNING THE FUTURE
OF THESE COMPANIES
>> YES
>> GIVE US THE GIST OF THAT.
>> HE SENT AN EMAIL SAYING THAT
THEY HAD REACHED A RESOLUTION.
AND HE WAS GOING TO BE BOUGHT
OUT.
>> Reporter: ED HAD FAKED A
BUYOUT
AND WITH THAT EMAIL, HE SEVERED
CHRIS SMITH'S TIES TO THE
COMPANY, WHICH ALLOWED ED TO
STEAL EVERYTHING
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MAYBE
MORE
AND THEN HE STARTED GETTING RID
OF THE AWFUL EVIDENCE BEFORE THE
STAFF COULD GET WISE
>> ED HAD TOLD US VIA EMAIL, I
BELIEVE, TO WORK FROM HOME
I'M HAVING THE OFFICE REDONE A
LITTLE BIT
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE REPAINTED.
SO BE AWARE THERE MIGHT BE TARPS
ON THE FLOOR JUST BECAUSE OF THE
PAINTERS
>> Reporter: AND ED, POSING AS
CHRIS ONLINE, TURNED HIS
ATTENTION TO CHRIS' FAMILY,
SPINNING FABULOUS TALES OF WORLD
TRAVELS FOR MONTHS ON END.
>> LOOK, I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THOSE E-MAILS.
>> Reporter: BUT ED MINGLED FACT
AND FICTION IN THOSE E-MAILS
IT WAS ED ACTING AS CHRIS WHO
DUMPED CHRIS' GIRLFRIEND
ED WHO SAID CHRIS HAD TAKEN OFF
WITH TIFFANY TAYLOR.
AND PAUL WAS RIGHT
HE DID SEE TIFFANY IN VEGAS.
OF COURSE SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE WHOLE MESS.
NO WONDER SHE LOOKED AT HIM
BLANKLY.
>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTOR
CALLED KENNY KRAFT TO THE STAND.
ED HIRES HIM TO GET RID OF
CHRIS' CAR, HIS STUFF, HIS SURF
BOARD.
>> SO YOU -- YOU TOOK THE
SURFBOARDS DOWN AND GAVE 'EM TO
YOUR FRIEND.
IS THAT RIGHT?
>> CORRECT
>> AND DID YOU SELL THEM OR YOU
GAVE 'EM TO HIM?
>> GAVE THEM TO HIM.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS A BIG
TELL
ANY SURFER, AND MOST ESPECIALLY
A SURFING D.A., KNOWS YOU DON'T
HEAD OUT ON A SURFING TRIP AND
LEAVE YOUR BOARDS BEHIND
>> THERE'S A WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST
THAT ANYBODY THAT'S EVER DONE A
SURF TRIP KNOWS.
AND ED SHIN DIDN'T
>> Reporter: HOW WOULD THE
DEFENSE COUNTER ALL THAT
OH, ED SHIN HAD A PLAN
>> HIS STOCK AND TRADE IS
MANIPULATING PEOPLE AND LYING.
AND ALL THEY NEED IS ONE
SO -
>> Reporter: ALL I NEED TO DO IS
GET ON THE STAND
I CAN PERSUADE THOSE PEOPLE THAT
I'M HONORABLE.
>> RIGHT
AND JUST W -- ALL HE NEEDS IS
ONE.
AND HE -- HE AVOIDS A
CONVICTION
THAT'S A SIREN SONG TO A CON MAN
LIKE ED SHIN
>> Reporter: WOULD HE TAKE THE
STAND?
HOW COULD HE RESIST?
>>>.
>>>
>>> I WENT TO GRAB MY PHONE AND MY MOM JUST SAID DO NOT ANSWER
THAT
>> I HAVE NO IDEA OF THE HORROR
GOING TO COME.
>> Reporter: DEFENSE ATTORNEY ED
WELBOURNE OPENED HIS CASE WITH
ONE BIG IDEA, THAT CHRIS SMITH
WAS THE ARCHITECT OF HIS OWN
DEATH.
AND ED SHIN?
WAS A THIEF, MAYBE, DISHONEST,
SURE
BUT NOT A KILLER
IT WAS, MORE OR LESS, THE SAME
STORY ED HAD BEEN TELLING SINCE
HE WAS ARRESTED.
THAT CHRIS ATTACKED HIM BEFORE
HITTING HIS HEAD ON HIS DESK,
CAUSING HIS OWN DEATH.
THAT CHRIS WAS AN ANGRY,
VOLATILE, ALCOHOLIC.
WHY SHOULD THE JURY BELIEVE
THAT
HERE WAS THE DEFENSE STRATEGY.
CALL THE GIRLFRIEND WHO TALKED
TO THE POLICE SEVEN YEARS AGO
WHEN SHE STILL THOUGHT CHRIS
DUMPED HER FOR ANOTHER WOMAN
HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS A RELUCTANT
WITNESS AND HER TESTIMONY WAS
NOT RECORDED
ON THE STAND SHE WAS FORCED TO
CONFIRM THE STORY SHE TOLD
POLICE, THE NEGATIVE THINGS SHE
SAID ABOUT CHRIS IN ANGER,
THINGS SHE NOW REGRETS SAYING.
LIKE --
>> HE BROKE THINGS, THREW
WALL AT HIS OWN HOME
HE GOT A NEW PHONE EVERY MONTH
BECAUSE HE WOULD THROW IT
AGAINST THE WALL AND BREAK IT.
THAT'S THE STUFF THAT SHE
WITNESSED.
>> Reporter: AND THEN ED SHIN
HIMSELF APPEARED
TO TELL THE TRUTH, HE PROMISED
HE WOULD
THE TRUE STORY SAID ED, CHRIS
WAS UNSTABLE, DISHONEST.
HE CLAIMED CHRIS HELPED HIM WITH
THE EMBEZZLEMENT SCREAM HE, ED,
WAS CONVICTED OF
AND ON THAT DAY, THE DAY CHRIS
DIED, ED THREATENED TO RAT CHRIS
OUT.
AND THAT SAID, ED, IS WHEN CHRIS
BLEW
>> I THINK THAT'S WHEN HE
GRABBED ME.
>> HOW DID YOU HE GRAB YOU
>> HE MADE A MOVE TOWARDS MY
THROAT
>> DID HE PLACE HIS HANDS ON
YOU?
>> YES
>> Reporter: WHAT FOLLOWED HE
TOLD THE COURT WAS A MONUMENTAL
BRAWL.
WITH ED PORTRAYING HIMSELF AS A
RELUCTANT FIGHTER UP AGAINST A
VIOLENT, REMORSELESS CHRIS
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO AVOID HIM,
NOT REALLY FIGHT HIM INITIALLY
BUT THEN HE LUNGED AT ME -
LUNGED AT ME AGAIN
AND I THINK HE EITHER --
YOU KNOW, HE HIT ME OR
SOMETHING.
BUT IT JUST, AT THAT POINT, I
THOUGHT I HAD TO FIGHT BACK.
I HAD NO CHOICE.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS GRAPPLING
AND WRESTLING.
EVEN A KIND OF MID-AIR
COLLISION, LIKE A BALLET GONE
BAD.
>> AS HE WAS MAKING A MOVE TO
JUMP, I THINK I KIND OF WENT UP
TOO, TO TRY TO JUST CATCH HIM
MID AIR.
AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A -- LIKE
A MID-AIR COLLISION.
>> Reporter: AND BLOOD, ED
TESTIFIED.
BLOOD EVERYWHERE
THEN FINALLY, THE END.
CHRIS LUNGING AT ED.
>> I JUST SIDE-STEPPED, AND I
GRABBED HIM, AND I REMEMBER JUST
TURNING AROUND AND SWINGING HIM
INTO HIS OFFICE AS HARD AS I
COULD.
>> AND WERE YOU ABLE TO THROW
HIM INTO HIS OFFICE?
>> YES
>> AND WHAT HAPPENED TO -- WHEN
HE WENT INTO HIS OFFICE?
>> HE -- I THINK HE TOOK A
COUPLE STEPS
AND THAT'S WHEN HE FELL.
AND HE HIT THE DESK REALLY HARD.
>> WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?
>> I REMEMBER FREAKING OUT
>> Reporter: ED SAID HE WAS IN
SHOCK THEN, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO
BUT BECAUSE OF THAT EMBEZZLEMENT
SCHEME THEY'D CAUGHT HIM IN, HE
DIDN'T THINK THE COPS WOULD
BELIEVE A THING HE SAID, SO HE
DIDN'T CALL 911.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR UNDERSTANDING
OF THAT PHONE CALL
>> I WAS GOING TO REACH OUT TO
SOMEBODY AND IF THEY COULD HELP.
>> AND WHAT WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO
DO
>> I SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME CASH.
I BELIEVE IT WAS $10,000, COULD
HAVE BEEN $15,000, AND I WAS
SUPPOSED TO JUST BE READY TO
TAKE A PHONE CALL.
>> Reporter: AND SURE ENOUGH, HE
SAID, SOMEBODY CALLED, A GUY
WITH AN EASTERN EUROPEAN ACCENT.
>> SO YOU GOT SOME INSTRUCTIONS
FROM THIS PERSON
>> YES
>> WHAT WERE THE INSTRUCTIONS
IN.
>> MEET THIS GUY AT A GAS
STATION UP IN LONG BEACH, GIVE
HIM THE MONEY AND THE
DIRECTIONS, LEAVE THE OFFICE
UNLOCKED
>> Reporter: THE GUY WAS TALL
AND BLONDE, SAID ED, A LEATHER
JACKET, PROBABLE RUSSIAN
AND OVER THE WEEKEND ED
TESTIFIED THE BODY WAS REMOVED
THE CLEANUP FOLLOWED
BUT THEN ED TOLD THE COURT THE
WHOLE THING BECAME TOO MUCH FOR
HIM, AND HE DECIDED TO FLEE TO
MEXICO
ALMOST MADE IT TO THE BORDER
>> AND I -- I COULDN'T DO IT
I COULDN'T GET MYSELF TO LEAVE
MY FAMILY AND JUST RUN AWAY SO I
TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK.
>> AND HE GOT BACK TO HIS
E-MAILS, E-MAILS THAT WOULD
TORTURE THE SMITH FAMILY FOR
MONTHS TO COME
>> MR. SHIN, LOOKING BACK AT
THIS SITUATION DO YOU REGRET THE
THINGS THAT YOU DID AFTER THE
FIGHT?
>> EVERYTHING.
>> WHY
>> BECAUSE IT WAS WRONG ON EVERY
LEVEL NOT TO CALL THE POLICE,
NOT TO TRUST THAT EVERYTHING
WOULD HAVE SORTED ITSELF OUT
TO -- TO COMPLETELY DECEIVE A
FAMILY
>> Reporter: BUT OF COURSE ED'S
STORY WAS NOT ABOUT TO GO
UNCHALLENGED, WAS IT
NOT A CHANCE
PROSECUTOR MATT MURPHY CAME
PREPARED BECAUSE IN HIS WORDS HE
HAD A CON MAN ON THE STAND TO
OUTWIT
WHERE DOES HE RANK IN THE REALM
OF CON-ARTISTS
>> OH, BOY, HE'S A HORRIBLE,
LUMENTABLE, DISGRACEFUL HUMAN
BEING.
>> Reporter: IT WAS CURIOUS SAID
THE PROSECUTOR
WHEN HE TOLD THE PROSECUTOR
ABOUT FIGHTING CHRIS HE NEVER
MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT BEING
GRABBED BY THE NECK UNTIL NOW.
>> THAT'S GOT A BE A VERY
SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE,
RIGHT?
THIS IS WHEN YOUR PARTNER GRAB
YOU BY THE THROAT, RIGHT
>> YES
>> DID YOU EVER SAY ANYTHING TO
THE DETECTIVE ABOUT HIM GRAB YOU
BY THE THROAT?
>> I DO NOT REMEMBER IF I DID.
I DON'T THINK I DID.
>> IF THE FIGHT WAS AS VIOLENT
AS HE CLAIMED IN HIS INTERVIEW
WITH INVESTIGATORS, WASN'T IT
STRANGE, ASKED THE PROSECUTOR,
THAT ONLY CHRIS' BLOOD WAS
SPATTERED AROUND THE OFFICE,
THAT ED SOMEHOW EMERGED
APPARENTLY UNSCATHED
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT FOR US
>> I CANNOT.
>> AS CHRIS LAY DYING, ED
ELECTED NOT TO CALL 911.
INSTEAD HE TESTIFIED HE GOT OUT
OF THE OFFICE AND DROVE AROUND
FOR A WHILE.
BUT ED'S NEXT MOVE ACCORDING TO
PROSECUTOR MURPHY WAS PROOF THAT
HE PLANNED TO KILL CHRIS
ED HIT SEND ON THAT CAREFULLY
COMPOSED E-MAIL TO A LAWYER,
WHICH CLAIMED THAT CHRIS AGREED
TO SELL ED HIS SHARE OF THE
COMPANY.
WHICH HE'D WRITTEN BEFOREHAND.
>> HAD TO.
>> HAD TO HAVE
>> ABSOLUTELY HAD TO HAVE.
THERE ISN'T A TYPO IN THAT
THING.
THAT'S CALM, COOL, COLLECTED,
COLD-BLOODED, AND RUTHLESS
>> Reporter: NEAR THE END OF HIS
CROSS-EXAMINATION MURPHY TRIED
FOR A LITTLE SARCASM
>> ARE YOU TEARING UP A LITTLE
BIT RIGHT NOW?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> DID YOU TEAR UP WHEN HE WROTE
THAT E-MAIL WHEN YOU DID THAT?
>> YEAH.
>> YOU WERE ACTUALLY TEARING UP
AT THE COMPUTER AS YOU WERE
GOING TO BREAK A MOTHER'S HEART
BY ESSENTIALLY BLAMING HER FOR
THE DEATH OF HER SON
THAT WAS MAKING YOU FEEL SAD
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE MANY
EMOTIONS I FELT, YES
>> Reporter: IN HIS CLOSING THE
PROSECUTOR ASSURED THE JURY THAT
CHRIS SMITH WAS NOT THE PERSON
THE DEFENSE PORTRAYED, NOT EVEN
CLOSE, THAT IN FACT CHRIS WAS
NOT VIOLENT, WAS NOT A FIGHTER,
NOT A DRUNK BUT WAS A HAPPY,
FRIENDLY, CREATIVE GUY WHO
DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE.
WHAT DOES IT DO TO YOUR HEART
AND YOUR STOMACH AS THEY'RE
WRAPPING THINGS UP AND THE JURY
IS GOING TO GET THE CASE, AND
NOW YOU HAVE NO CONTROL
WHATSOEVER FOR HOW THESE
STRANGERS ARE GOING TO DECIDE?
>> IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU
HOLD YOUR BREATH AND YOU GET TO
THAT POINT WHERE YOU LIKE JUST
CAN'T HOLD YOUR BREATH ANYMORE
YOU JUST WANT IT TO BE DONE.
IT'S LIKE -- IT'S HARD
>> Reporter: SOON A VERDICT AND
PERHAPS FINALLY A CHANCE TO
EXHALE
>>> COMING UP -- A POWERFUL
CONFRONTATION.
>> I DON'T GIVE A SWEET FLYING
[ BLEEP ] ABOUT THAT
I DON'T.
I KIND OF CARE THAT THE FAMILY
HAS A CHANCE TO GET SOME
CLOSURE.
>>> THE DEFENDANT IS PRESENT
THE JURORS ARE PRESENT ON BEHALF
OF THE PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: AFTER EIGHT PAINFUL
YEARS AND AN EMOTIONAL
MONTH-LONG TRIAL, THE FAMILY OF
CHRIS SMITH WOULD SPEND ONE MORE
DAY IN AN ORANGE COUNTY
COURTROOM.
THE JURORS GOT THE CASE
MIDMORNING
AND LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER,
THEY HAD A VERDICT
>> WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE
ENTITLED ACTION, FIND THE
DEFENDANT,
EDWARD YOUNGHOON SHIN, GUILTY.
>> Reporter: GUILTY OF
FIRST-DEGREE MURDER FOR
FINANCIAL GAIN
ED SHIN WAS DONE
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO HEAR THEM SAY
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING SO MANY
YEARS FOR THEM TO SAY?
>> IT WAS WONDERFUL.
I JUST FELT, LIKE, WAVES AND
WAVES OF JUST, LIKE --
IT WAS -- IT WAS LIKE THE GRIEF
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HOLDING IN, BUT
NOW I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO BREATHE
A FULL BREATH.
>> Reporter: THAT BREATH, IT'S
BITTERSWEET.
BECAUSE THROUGH THE HOURS OF
INTERVIEWS AND TESTIMONY,
ED SHIN HAS NOT PROVIDED ONE
PIECE OF THE STORY THAT WOULD
BRING CHRIS HOME
>> HIS BODY IS SOMEWHERE OUT
THERE, DOWN ON THE DESERT IN
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
>> Reporter: WOULD YOU WANT TO
KNOW
WOULD YOU WANT TO FIND IT?
>> I THINK SO.
YEAH
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF HIS
POSSESSIONS.
WE HAVE NOTHING.
>> Reporter: AFTER ALL THE SMITH
FAMILY ENDURED, PERHAPS IT WAS
TIME FOR ANSWERS
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> Reporter: WE MADE AN
ARRANGEMENT TO TALK TO ED SHIN
IN JAIL, NOW A CONVICTED KILLER.
WHAT YOU DID, YOU CONFESS, IS
TERRIBLY CRUEL, ALLOWING THEM TO
THINK THAT HE WAS ALIVE ALL THAT
TIME WHEN HE WAS DEAD, WHEN
YOU'D ALREADY KILLED HIM
I MEAN, THAT'S TERRIBLE.
>> I KNOW.
I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT THOSE
THINGS THAT I DID WERE TERRIBLE
AND BEYOND WRONG
AND, YOU KNOW -- AND I KNOW THAT
ULTIMATELY THAT THERE'S A PRICE
TO BE PAID FOR ALL THAT.
>> Reporter: HE WILL PAY THE
PRICE -- LIFE IN PRISON.
HE WAS SENTENCED A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE WE MET.
>> TO SERVE THE REST OF HIS
NATURAL LIFE IN THE STATE
PENITENTIARY
THIS CONCLUDES THIS SENTENCING
>> Reporter: WHETHER ED SHIN
PANICKED LIKE HE CLAIMS OR IS IN
FACT A COLD-BLOODED KILLER, THE
FACT THAT CHRIS' BODY HAS NEVER
BEEN FOUND IS, WELL, TROUBLING
INVESTIGATORS, OF COURSE,
BELIEVE THAT ED -- ED HIMSELF --
BURIED CHRIS' BODY OUT IN THAT
VAST CALIFORNIA DESERT
THAT DAY, YOU HAD TO GET RID OF
THE BODY
YOU HAD TO GET IT SOMEWHERE.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT, THEN WHO
DID?
>> THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T TALK
ABOUT.
THAT'S -- THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE
>> Reporter: SO YOU'RE GOING TO
TAKE THE FALL FOR THIS GUY
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: TAKE THE FALL FOR
WHO?
REMEMBER, ED CLAIMED SOME
RUSSIAN BROUGHT IN BY JOHNNY
VEGAS GOT RID OF THE BODY.
WE ACTUALLY FOUND JOHNNY VEGAS
AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT
>> IT'S FUNNY THOUGH, 'CAUSE
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER
HEARD OF THIS.
>> Reporter: HIS REAL NAME IS
JOHN KAPONEN
>> RIGHT THERE I CAN TELL YOU --
WHATEVER THAT GUY IS TELLING YOU
GUYS, IT'S A LIE
>> Reporter: AND THE RUSSIAN
CLEANER?
THE BODY DISPOSER?
>> I DON'T KNOW ANY RUSSIAN
PEOPLE, LET ALONE RUSSIAN
CLEANERS
WHAT'S A RUSSIAN CLEANER
>> Reporter: YOU KEPT THROWING
OUT THESE NAMES LIKE JOHNNY
VEGAS AND PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSEDLY
HELPED YOU, THE RUSSIAN, AND IT
WAS ALL FANTASY.
IT WAS ALL UNTRUE.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T REVEAL EITHER
WHERE YOU PUT THE BODY
PERSONALLY, WHEN YOU DROVE THA
RENTAL TRUCK DOWN TO WHEREVER
YOU DROVE IT TO.
YOU WON'T REVEAL THAT.
>> I CAN'T
I DON'T HAVE THAT.
THAT'S -- AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT I CAN DO, UNFORTUNATELY
I MEAN, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
>> Reporter: A NAME.
THAT'S ALL THEY NEED
A NAME
>> NO, THAT'S NOT -- THAT --
>> Reporter: A PLACE
>> THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE
I UNDERSTAND THAT'S WHAT
EVERYBODY WANTS.
AND IF -
>> Reporter: YEAH, I MEAN --
>> SO IT'S BLATANTLY OBVIOUS,
RIGHT?
IS -- IF IT'S BEEN SO EASY,
RIGHT?
IT'S EASY TO JUST SIT HERE AND
SAY, "WELL, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO
THIS."
>> Reporter: WELL, IT DOES,
KINDA.
>> RIGHT
SO THEN IF IT WAS THAT EASY FOR
ME, THEN DON'T YOU THINK IT
WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY?
HEY, IT'S NOT.
>> Reporter: THEN MAYBE YOU
COULD EXPLAIN WHY IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO GIVE US
THE ANSWER
I MEAN, IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER.
EITHER I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION
OR I CAN TELL YOU WHY I CAN'T.
>> THERE ARE JUST SOME SECRETS
THAT A MAN IS WILLING TO GIVE UP
HIS LIFE FOR
>> Reporter: ALL RIGHT
SO NOW I THINK WE'RE KIND OF AT
AN UNDERSTANDING, WHICH IS THAT,
YOU KNOW -
>> THIS IS SOMEWHERE THAT I
CAN'T GO
>> Reporter: IT -- IT'S --
RIGHT, THAT, YOU KNOW --
>> I'M SORRY
YOU KNOW, AS A JOURNALIST,
THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY
WANTS --
>> Reporter: AND -
>> I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE A
COUP DE GRACE FOR YOU TO -- TO
UNEARTH SOME -
>> Reporter: ED, I DON'T GIVE A
SWEET FLYING [ BLEEP ] ABOUT
THAT
I DON'T.
I DON'T CARE
I KINDA CARE -
>> YOU DO CARE
>> Reporter: -- THAT THE FAMILY
HAS A CHANCE TO GET SOME
CLOSURE, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN -
>> THEY HAVE CLOSURE -
>> Reporter: -- BEGGING YOU FOR.
THEY DON'T HAVE CLOSURE.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR --
>> YES, THEY DO.
>> Reporter: THEY DON'T KNOW
WHERE THEIR CHILD IS
YOU'RE A PARENT.
>> I AM.
>> Reporter: RIGHT
AND SO LET'S GET TO THIS
WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE
YOU'RE SAYING YOU CAN'T PROVIDE
THE INFORMATION.
SO SECOND BEST, WHY CAN'T YOU
PROVIDE THE INFORMATION?
YOU'RE -- YOU GET ALL MYSTERIOUS
WHEN ASKED THAT QUESTION
JUST TELL ME THAT?
ARE THERE BAD GUYS WAITING TO
POUNCE ON YOUR FAMILY AND HARM
YOUR CHILDREN OR SOMETHING
>> NO, BUT LIKE I SAID, JUST -
>> Reporter: SO ED SHIN DID IT
HIMSELF, THEN?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DID NOT.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT SERGEANT DON VOGHT STILL
BELIEVES
>> WE FELT THEN, AND WE FEEL
NOW, THAT ED KNOWS WHERE THE
BODY IS.
WE FEEL HE BURIED THE BODY
>> Reporter: AND HE REFUSES TO
GIVE UP THAT LOCATION, THEY SAY,
BECAUSE HE KNOWS CHRIS' BODY
WOULD REVEAL THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW
ED KILLED HIM.
BUT ED SHIN INSISTS IT'S REALLY
JUST ABOUT THAT ONE THING.
>> IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING, AND
THAT'S IT.
AND THERE'S NOTHIN' ELSE
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE --
>> Reporter: PROTECTING WHO?
>> I TOLD YOU ALREADY.
AND --
>> Reporter: YOUR FAMILY
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: FROM WHAT
>> I'M NOT -- I'M NOT GONNA TALK
ABOUT IT
THE MORE WE GO DOWN THAT ROAD,
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT BECOMES
THIS USELESS CYCLE
>> Reporter: OVER AND OVER, HE
WOULDN'T EXPLAIN
>> THIS IS WHERE WE'RE ALWAYS
ENDING UP.
>> Reporter: AND SO A FAMILY'S
FRUSTRATION AND GRIEF WILL
REMAIN WITHOUT A FINAL RESTING
PLACE.
SURFERS ARE A TIGHT CREW
WHEN ONE DIES, THEY GATHER FOR
WHAT'S CALLED A PADDLE-OUT
CEREMONY
AND THIS WAS CHRIS' CREW,
FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WORK,
FAMILY, GATHERED AT THE BEACH ON
THE CENTRAL COAST WHERE CHRIS
AND PAUL GREW UP
THERE WERE FLOWERS AND MEMORIES,
LAUGHTER AND TEARS
CHRIS SMITH MAY BE BURIED
SOMEWHERE IN THE GREAT BIG
DESERT, BUT THIS IS WHERE HIS
SPIRIT LIVES ON, IN THE CRASHING
SURF HE LOVED.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY AT
7:00, 6:00 CENTRAL
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD