GUILTY CA - Gavin Smith, 57, Oak Park, 1 May 2012

[nosherlock]

i saw that one of the various flyers, appeared to be a spanish language version. makes sense because the area is heavily hispanic.

 

[Seek&Find]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/gavin-smith-search-contin_n_1660069.html

"Friends and family of missing Fox executive Gavin Smith canvassed Sylmar, Calif. Sunday, plastering posters of his face and the black Mercedes he was last seen driving on storefronts and restaurants around town"

This is what I was talking about when I made my previous statement ...



I was NOT talking about the license plate readers that Seek&Find followed up with.

So apparently Gavin was indeed in the town of Sylmar ... presumably some time before @4:30am
... but of course law enforcement would have the exact time.

So glad we finally found out that LE did use that tool !
It certainly clarifies that some unknown 3rd person was NOT the one who took the car to Sylmar.

-----

NOTE: I couldn't find the delete, so I am making a corection.
My first read of that statement assumed that Gavin was caught ON CAMERA by storefront video surveillance ...
but later readings revealed the statement could be read another way ...
that it was the paper pages that were placed on storefronts.

:waitasec: I wasn't responding to your post. Read back. I (post # 338) quoted and referred to deca's post (#335), who was reponding to JodyMT's post (#326), all referencing red light/traffic cameras.

I agree with your edit. That the statement above (from the HuffPo story, since no link above) meant the posters were of the car Gavin was last seen driving, and that the posters were plastered on storefronts, etc. Certainly, that line in that article could use a rewrite for clarity's sake.

From WS FAQ:

If you have registered, you will be able to edit and delete your posts. Note that the administrator can disable this ability as he desires. Your ability to edit your posts may also be time-limited, depending on how the administrator has set up the forum.

To edit or delete your posts, click the button by the post you want to edit. If your post was the first in the thread, then deleting the post may result in the removal of the entire thread.

After you have made your modifications, a note may appear, which notifies other users that you have edited your post. Administrators and moderators may also edit your messages but this note may not appear when they do so.

 

[Seek&Find]

Oh my gosh! Is that why some people come here ... for the reward ???
I just came out of interest in the case.

I had just recently been wondering what the point was in bumping old messages again ...
so now I can understand why a poster might place importance on being the first to specify an idea
- in order to get credited with any reward. I guess it takes all kinds of people and I am naive.

In all the cases I've followed here, I've never seen anyone post at WS for a reward. Most are here because they care about the missing. A few out of curiosity. The solely curious tend not to stay long, IMO.

Sometimes posts are bumped to review prev links/ data pertinent to the current discussion in the thread, rather than retype it.

 

[Seek&Find]

Hi Peeps!

I'm bumping one of Kimster's previous posts. If you do have inside information and would like to talk about it, please follow the instructions for becoming verified at the link.

Thanks!

Salem


Per Kimster, one of our admins here

Sorry peeps, no rumors allowed.

If an insider wants to get verified and explain their source confidentially, they can email [email protected]

Bumping this note from a mod, quoting an admin

 

[Seek&Find]

:welcome5: nosherlock!

 

[Seek&Find]

Since we have so many new posters, an important post from a mod, to help posts not go poof!

We are a Victim Friendly Forum, this includes the family of the victim. <snip>

Rumors are not allowed, if you are stating something as fact please provide a link for it. Thank you.

Ima

link

SBM

 

[Seek&Find]

Gavin Smith LASD Special Bulletin, released in May, and referenced in an earlier post.

 

[katydid23]

SBM

We need a local to translate all the locations and relationship between them, lol.

Looks like there is a valley named Simi Valley and a city within the valley, also called Simi Valley. Link

Simi Hills is the name of "low rocky mountain range". Simi Hills - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Simi Hills is also the name of a community within the Simi Valley. Link

I haven't seen the friend's comment re: Simi Valley pings LL mentioned..?? It does look like people on findgavinsmith.com have mentioned many places though, like Topanga Canyon, Kanan (a road, I think), Malibu, so perhaps Simi Valley was discussed there too??

LE's comment re: "bouncing around the valley" seems vague, but given that West Hills (where Gavin's home is), Canoga Park (Creeches' home), and Sylmar (alleged last ping location) are all in the San Fernando Valley, I think there referring to SFV in referencing "the valley". I'm guessing it's easier for locals to decipher the location lingo. It's hard to find a good map for all these areas by name, IMO.

I am very familiar with the area, as I live right in between Oak Park, and the San Fernando Valley area. He had to drive past my area to get to the Valley, essentially.

First, about the Simi confusion. Oak Park is indeed in the Simi Hills. But that is a different thing than the town of Simi Valley. Simi Valley is in the opposite direction of the SF Valley. Simi Valley is East of OakPark, and he drove West, through Agoura/ Westlake, to get to the SF Valley. [ which is South West of Oak Park.]

Also, people were talking about Kanan and Malibu, because many people go missing from our area when out driving at night and heading towards the beach. We are only 11 miles from the ocean, but it is a treacherous road with lots of cliffs and curves and many cars have been hidden in the canyons and found years later with missing people inside. Originally I wondered if he went off a cliff, accidentally or on purpose.

There would be no reason for him to go to Simi Valley at 4 am. Nothing is open after 11 pm in that small bedroom community. But in the SFValley there are a lot of bars and 24 hr restaurants and stores. So that makes more sense as a destination.

 

[Seek&Find]

Thanks for the local scoop!

 

[Seek&Find]

Special Bulletin for Gavin's Car distributed in Sylmar

Couldn't get a very clear image.

If someone else grabs a better image, please post. Thanks!

(Sorry to mods & posters for learning on the fly re: pic. First attempt to screen grab, upload, & post through WS.)

We now return you to your regularly sized Gavin thread.

 

[2rose]

Lol. There seemed to be confusion regarding my post referencing red light/traffic cams/plate readers. I addressed the reasoning for my post. :thumb:

Absolutely NO confusion here !
Your post followed mine ... as I previously addressed on 2 separate occasions!

 

[2rose]

There were pings all over the valley one media source said that night and on the original Find Gavin Smith page, and also pings in Simi Valley where one of Gavin's friends wrote he never went there and had no connections there

I did a word search of the FindGavin site including ALL comments and the word Simi did not show up.
So I think that is a mixup or memory error.
All the media articles "I" have read and reread said that the pings were in the San Fernando Valley.

 

[fran]

Attention Please!

I have had to delete some posts. If you're missing a post, it was removed for TOS violation or 'inside information' from a NON-verified poster.

There's been a lot of {snipping} as I call it. If you don't agree with another poster, either agree to disagree, move on, or use the 'ignore' feature. This back and forth isn't doing a thing to find Mr. Smith.

If you have any questions, please take time to review our "Rules" forum. This includes TOS and "Etiquette" for posting and Best Practices for dealing with your fellow posters.

Rules:
The Rules - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

There is also a thread explaining how to be verified as an 'professional' or 'insider.' This is strictly voluntary and extremely easy and any of your personal information is held in strict confidence. However, please be aware that if you have inside information, if you're not verified, you may not post this information unless it can be linked to on the www, from a reputable and allowed link, ie LE, MSM, or other sites that are allowed to be linked in the pages of Websleuths.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by pm, or any of the other moderators.

Now, let's see if we can figure out what happened to this poor man. He's been missing way too long and his family is very concerned, as well as LE and his community.

fran

 

[Seek&Find]

John Creech's new sentencing date is set for 7/26, two weeks from tomorrow. Hopefully, there'll be more answers regarding Gavin then. It'll be interesting to see if the hearing is open or closed, and if the media will be covering it.

Moo

 

[JodyMT]

My apologies for not being precise ... my point was that since May 7 (at least) LE had clear and convincing evidence that Gavin went missing in Sylmar, yet they did not release that info to the public for 2 months.

If LE had acknowledged the Sylmar info in a timely fashion back in May (instead of July), the public would have been concentrating on the Sylmar area. Of course I understand LE has no obligation to divulge the facts to us.

My personal opinion is that a valuable opportunity was lost to follow FRESH leads in Sylmar. Now we are left with the CURRENT situation which is that Sylmar residents are being asked to recall events that are 2 months old.

I personally don't remember ANY specific vehicles I saw in my neighbourhood 2 months ago ... and I extrapolated that other people wouldn't either. Even if someone might recall seeing a black Mercedes 2 months ago, the likelihood that they would be able to provide an exact date (before or after Gavin went missing) is very slim.



THAT is your personal opinion! My personal opinion is that LE has NOT made a definitive statement about the Taco signting ... in the same manner that they did not make a definitive statement about Gavin's last location.



The fact that he was sighted on May 7 does not preclude harm having come to him after that date. He has a job of 18 years that he has failed to report to. He has a family that does not understand why he has not been in contact with them. Something dramatic happened in Gavin's life BUT nobody knows what that was.

Recently in their marriage, the wife had:
- no income of her own
- an ailing mother battling cancer
- mortgage payments in arrears.

In order for the Smith family to move forward (with either a divorce or a death benefit claim) the wife needs PROOF of what happened to Gavin. Right now (July 2012) she is in limbo, with no proof of his whereabouts OR proof of his death. She has NO grounds to take any legal action. With Gavin's disappearance, the wife has lost her only souce of income (her husband's paycheck) which supported the entire family ... BUT the mortgage payment is still due every month & will NOT wait. The mortgage lender will only accept immediate cash. If Gavin had insurance, the wife needs a death certificate before they will give her any money. Institutions are not known for being understanding about monies due them ... or waiting indefinitely till Gavin's status is resolved. The wife is undergoing an extremely difficult time right now.

I used to work for a real estate and divorce attorney; I would love to talk to him about this case. I think Lisa could file for divorce, but it would be dragged out for a very long time because Gavin cannot be served. Notices to him would have to be put in papers all over California for a certain amount of time. I don't know if she could claim desertion.

If Lisa were to find a buyer for her home right now, it would be a legal nightmare selling it without Gavin being able to sign off on the sale.

She will definitely need a very good attorney to handle the sale. I feel sorry for anyone who actually wants to buy it because of all the red tape that is waiting on them.

 

[deca]

This might come off as totally silly as I am just wondering out loud here.

What is the normal jail term for all of Johnny Creech drug charges? I think normal sentencing terms were 3-5 years. Is that PER charge? I wonder if he could bargain down/get the charges dropped for confessing to where Gavin might be. (If he did it) He could always claim that it was an accidental death and if there isn't evidence contrary to that he might only get a few years. Perhaps that sentence would be shorter than the drug sentence??

I don't know if I am making any sense. I need coffee. *shuffling off to fill my mug*

 

[deca]

John Creech's new sentencing date is set for 7/26, two weeks from tomorrow. Hopefully, there'll be more answers regarding Gavin then. It'll be interesting to see if the hearing is open or closed, and if the media will be covering it.

Moo

They would be stupid not to cover it. MOO
I mean, this is like a strange soap opera: former night club owners, drug dealers, torn marriages, someone missing. Too bad it is real.

 

[2rose]

The video "I" saw showed that the family made postings that includeded TWO pages - one with photo of Gavin and the other one with photo of his car.

I noticed right away that the video started with the reporter standing in front of a pole the family had posted with BOTH pages. There were further poles shown also with 2 pages posted.

I found that video again ...
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8728814

and another video also ...
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012...ox-executive-gavin-smith-canvass-sylmar-area/

 

[2rose]

What is the normal jail term for all of Johnny Creech drug charges? I think normal sentencing terms were 3-5 years. Is that PER charge? I wonder if he could bargain down/get the charges dropped for confessing to where Gavin might be. (If he did it) He could always claim that it was an accidental death and if there isn't evidence contrary to that he might only get a few years. Perhaps that sentence would be shorter than the drug sentence??

His current jail problems go back to Feb 2010 when he got 6 drug charges.
It was not explained how or why some charges were dropped and he ended up pleading to only ONE charge for which he now faces up to 10 years of prison time.

 

[Seek&Find]

:coffee: for ya.

John Creech was scheduled to be sentenced on a single count of selling and transporting more than 4 kilograms of cocaine, but the sentencing was postponed until July 26 at his attorney's request. Creech, who had been free on his own recognizance, was taken into custody without bail. Creech faces up to 10 years in state prison on the drug charge.

He was charged with six drug felonies and later pleaded no contest to one count of selling and transporting cocaine.

link

John Creech made the statements to Times reporters at Los Angeles County Superior Court, where he was scheduled to be sentenced on a single count of selling and transporting drugs. Instead, Judge Clifford Klein ordered that Creech remain in custody without bail pending a new sentencing date of July 26.

Creech faces up to 10 years in state prison.

link

He could be trying to work with LE to plead, or LE/DA could've requested to postpone sentencing and he be held due to their ongoing investigation.

It's interesting that the first quote says the hearing was postponed at Creech's attorney's request. That seems odd, unless they didn't think the Judge would order him held pending the new hearing. ???