CA CA - Christopher Ryan Smith, 32, Laguna Beach, 4 June 2010

[STEADFAST]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0901-africa-emails-20110901,0,2038441.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29

Christopher Smith's family in Oregon thought he'd taken an extended trip from his home in San Juan Capistrano, CA, to Africa and believed they were communicating with him through email for almost a year as he traveled around and described his adventures. But the emails stopped, and they reported the 32-year-old missing. Turns out, his business partner had killed him at the office and faked the whole Africa trip story. The business partner, Edward Younghoon Shin, has confessed after being arrested at the airport on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011. Shin's personal assistant has also been arrested for helping to cover up the crime. Smith's body has not been located.
Much more at link.

 

[Charlie09]

That's really sad, I hadn't heard anything about this and I live in Laguna Beach

 

[STEADFAST]

Pictures of the perps (alleged perps) at link:
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-irvine-business-partner-murder,0,3646417.story

 

[time]

Sad what people will do for money.

I hope they have more evidence than a confession - suspect they can track the money, emails, and such though.

 

[lizzybeth]

I heard about this for the first time (somehow missed it on this site) this morning on The Today Show. I feel like Shin won't reveal where he put Chris Smith's body but hopefully the assistant, Kraft, will (even if for a plea deal). The parents and loved ones of Smith deserve to know.

 

[LinasK]

I just read about this story in this morning's newspaper. Disgusting that he mislead the family for so long with the e-mails and that he won't give up what he did with the body!!!:furious:

 

[Tricia]

This is one of the cases we will be dscussing tonight on the Fox News L.A. Web broadcast.

9 PM PACIFIC.

You can watch right here:

http://media.myfoxla.com/live/2/

If anyone has any updates feel free to post them.

 

[fran]

Deputies search near Boulevard for Orange County murder evidence

BOULEVARD — About 125 deputies and volunteer search and rescue team members on Saturday searched an area near Boulevard for evidence related to an 18-month-old Orange County homicide investigation.

The case involved the 2010 slaying of Christopher Ryan Smith, 31, of Laguna Beach, whose body was never found. His business partner confessed to the slaying last year, investigators said.

full article at link ..................http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/feb/11/deputies-search-near-bouldevard-orange-county-murd/



FWIW, Boulevard, Ca (I never heard of it before) is South on I5 from San Juan Capistrano, I believe it's to then East to 8 E ? just over 120 m and 2 hours drive. It looks like it's out in the middle of nowhere. There's a LOT of nowhere in that area.

hth,
fran

 

[mamacita]

I couldn't find a discussion on this man, mods: pls update/delete as needed. Thank you!!

Searchers comb rural East County for O.C. murder clues

BOULEVARD, Calif. -- About 150 people combed the rugged back country of eastern San Diego County over the weekend, and one deputy said Sunday that evidence was found that may be related to the bizarre murder of a Laguna Beach man in 2010.

The search, near the tiny town called Boulevard some 45 miles east of San Diego, is the latest turn in the unusual murder case against 33-year-old Edward Younghoon Shin, the former business partner of Christopher Ryan Smith, 31, of Laguna Beach.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-evidence-foun-in-bizarre-murder-investigation,0,3132530.story

 

[mamacita]

Another, older article, with info on the case.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-irvine-business-partner-murder,0,3646417.story

 

[summer_breeze]

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/02/christopher_ryan_smith_edward_1.php

By Matt Coker Mon., Feb. 13 2012 at 10:27 AM

Orange County authorities say items found during the search for the body of Christopher Ryan Smith in southern San Diego County over the weekend may be evidence tied to the Laguna Beach 31-year-old's murder in 2010.

 

[mayqueen]

SJC Alleged Murderer Pleads Not Guilty
Published May 14, 2012

Edward Younghoon Shin, who stands accused of killing a business partner at their San Juan Capistrano office in 2010, pleaded not guilty to the murder Monday.

 

[hayaletcatcher]

Interesting article about a slightly strange story.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/10/17/51364.htm

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) - Parents of a slain professional wakeboarder turned businessman claim in court that their son's business partner, and alleged killer, stole his identity to "convert and fraudulently transfer (his) assets."
Steve and Debi Smith sued their son Chris's business partner Edward Shin and others in Orange County Court.

 

[MamaJoJo]

The lawsuit document...

https://getoutofdebt.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Adam-Pestritto1.pdf

 

[MamaJoJo]

The original press conference announcing Shin's arrest for Chris's murder...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-DqOnWeBXHA

I can't seem to find out if Shin was ever brought to trial or if there was ever any resolution with the Smith's lawsuit.

I wonder if the family ever got justice for Chris's murder?

 

[Redux]

The original press conference announcing Shin's arrest for Chris's murder...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-DqOnWeBXHA

I can't seem to find out if Shin was ever brought to trial or if there was ever any resolution with the Smith's lawsuit.

I wonder if the family ever got justice for Chris's murder?

Speak, and ye shall receive. LOL, I can't believe People did an article on this case just two weeks after you posted, MamaJoJo.

Shin is still awaiting trial.

Despite being charged with murder and awaiting trial since 2011, Shin maintains his innocence.

http://www.people.com/article/california-entrepreneur-covers-up-murder

 

[MamaJoJo]

Speak, and ye shall receive. LOL, I can't believe People did an article on this case just two weeks after you posted, MamaJoJo.

Shin is still awaiting trial.



http://www.people.com/article/california-entrepreneur-covers-up-murder

That is weird, Redux! Hopefully that means People will follow the trial a bit. In this article, I was struck by something Shin's lawyer said...

Despite being charged with murder and awaiting trial since 2011, Shin maintains his innocence. "He is anxious to have the truth revealed," says his attorney Edward Welbourn. "He was defending himself within reason and what happened was not anticipated and unplanned and was a terrible and unfortunate outcome."

Does that mean Shin is admitting to killing Chris though it was self defense? "Unplanned", "terrible, "not anticipated", "unfortunate" are not words used to describe someone who had no hand in Chris's demise. There is no excuse, no matter the circumstance, for leading his family to believe that he was galavanting across the globe. I hope the truth comes out and Chris's family get justice.

 

[Suglo]

We though he lost his marbles': Family of businessman who was murdered by his partner over a $1.2million debt reveal the moment they realized his emails were coming from the killer, and not their son.

Family of California businessman murdered by his partner speak on Dateline | Daily Mail Online

 

[Suglo]

An Irvine man was convicted Friday of first-degree murder in the 2010 death and disappearance of his business partner, despite the claim that he killed him accidentally during a “fight gone bad.”

Man who sent emails posing as his business partner is convicted of murdering him

 

[CastlesBurning]

Updated 7/6/20:
Christopher Ryan Smith – The Charley Project