The Chilling True Story Of Chris Smith: What Happened After The Dateline Episode "In A Lonely Place"
The tragic and bizarre disappearance of Chris Smith, a successful young entrepreneur from Southern California, captivated true crime audiences when it was featured on NBC's Dateline episode "In a Lonely Place." The case, which involves a web of deceit, a stolen identity, and a cold-blooded murder, remains one of the newsmagazine's most chilling stories, with updates continuing to surface as of
The story of Chris Smith is not just a tale of a life cut short; it's a cautionary look at the dangers of trusting a business partner and the lengths a desperate man will go to cover up financial fraud. His case gained national attention because of the killer's elaborate, months-long scheme to impersonate the victim, sending fake emails and messages to his family and friends to create the illusion that Chris was alive and traveling the world.
Biography and Profile of Chris Smith (The Victim)
The man at the center of the Dateline mystery, Chris Smith, was a vibrant and successful individual whose life was tragically cut short. Here is a complete profile of the entrepreneur and former athlete:
- Full Name: Christopher "Chris" Smith
- Date of Birth: 1979
- Age at Disappearance: 31
- Hometown: Orange County, California
- Education: Graduated from the University of California, Irvine (UCI)
- Early Career: Professional Wakeboarder
- Primary Business: Co-founder and CEO of 800XChange, a technology and marketing company based in Irvine, California.
- Disappearance Date: June 2010
- Cause of Death: Murder (Blunt force trauma)
- Killer: Edward "Ed" Shin, his business partner.
Smith was known for his energetic personality and dual life as a former professional wakeboarder who successfully transitioned into the fast-paced world of technology and entrepreneurship. His company, 800XChange, was a legitimate and growing business, making his sudden, out-of-character "disappearance" to travel the world highly suspicious to his family and close friends from the very beginning. This strong suspicion from his loved ones was key to unraveling the complex crime.
The Shocking Disappearance and Impersonation Scheme
Chris Smith was last seen in June 2010. The initial story, fabricated by his killer, was that Chris had decided to abruptly leave his life and business behind to travel the world, specifically to South America and Africa. This narrative was meticulously maintained through a series of emails and text messages sent from Chris's accounts over the next several months.
The Web of Lies Spun by Ed Shin
The mastermind behind the murder and the elaborate cover-up was Chris's business partner, Ed Shin. Shin was a man drowning in debt and using the company, 800XChange, as his personal piggy bank. When Chris discovered the financial fraud, Shin saw only one way out: murder.
Shin's impersonation scheme was chillingly detailed:
- Fake Communications: He sent emails to Chris’s family and friends, claiming to be traveling and asking them not to contact him, citing a need to disconnect.
- Financial Fraud: Shin continued to access Chris's bank accounts, using the money to pay off his own debts and maintain the illusion that Chris was still in control of his finances.
- Selling Assets: He even attempted to sell Chris's car and other personal belongings, claiming Chris had asked him to handle the transactions before leaving the country.
The case began to unravel when Chris’s family and friends noticed inconsistencies in the messages, particularly the uncharacteristic language and the fact that Chris, an avid social media user, had completely stopped posting. His father, Peter Smith, was relentless in his pursuit of the truth, eventually forcing a deeper investigation by the Orange County authorities.
The Investigation, Conviction, and Where Ed Shin Is Now
The breakthrough in the investigation came when authorities focused on Ed Shin. Financial records and digital evidence painted a clear picture of his motive and opportunity. The final, damning piece of evidence was the discovery of Chris Smith's blood found at the Irvine office of 800XChange, specifically on the walls, ceiling, and desk, indicating a violent struggle and murder.
The Discovery and Confession
Shin initially maintained his innocence, sticking to the travel story. However, faced with irrefutable forensic evidence, he eventually confessed to the murder. He admitted to killing Chris Smith in a fit of rage during a confrontation over the financial discrepancies at the company office.
Ed Shin also led investigators to the location of Chris's body, which he had disposed of in a remote area in the Southern California desert, finally bringing a measure of closure to the Smith family after months of agonizing uncertainty.
Ed Shin's Current Status and Sentencing
In 2018, Edward "Ed" Shin was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Chris Smith. The conviction brought an end to the long legal process that followed the 2010 crime.
Where is Ed Shin now? Ed Shin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of
The Dateline episode, "In a Lonely Place," narrated by Keith Morrison, brought the full complexity of the case to a national audience, highlighting the tireless efforts of the Orange County District Attorney's office and the Smith family to ensure justice was served. The episode remains a frequently re-aired classic of the true crime genre, serving as a permanent memorial to a promising life tragically lost.
Key Entities and Themes in the Chris Smith Dateline Case
The story of Chris Smith is rich with elements that make it a compelling and tragic true crime narrative, involving multiple key entities and themes:
- Orange County, California: The primary location of the crime and the business, 800XChange.
- Irvine, California: The city where the murder took place at the company's office.
- Edward "Ed" Shin: The convicted murderer and Chris's business partner.
- Peter Smith: Chris's father, whose vigilance was instrumental in launching the official investigation.
- 800XChange: The technology and marketing firm that served as the setting for the fatal confrontation.
- Keith Morrison: The renowned Dateline NBC correspondent who narrated the episode.
- "In a Lonely Place": The title of the Dateline episode detailing the case.
- Financial Fraud: The primary motive for the murder, as Ed Shin was deeply in debt.
- Professional Wakeboarding: Chris Smith's former career, a detail that highlighted his vibrant and active life.
- Identity Theft: The key element of the cover-up, where the killer impersonated the victim for months.
- Orange County District Attorney: The office responsible for prosecuting Ed Shin.
- California State Prison: Where Ed Shin is currently incarcerated.
- The Southern California Desert: The remote location where Chris Smith's body was eventually found.
- Blunt Force Trauma: The official cause of death.
- 2018: The year Ed Shin was convicted.
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