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Remains of Fox executive Gavin Smith, missing for 2 years, found in California forest Remains of Fox executive Gavin Smith, missing for 2 years, found in California forest
(about 2 hours later)
Gavin Smith, 57, was last seen pulling away from his friend’s house in Oak Park, Calif. in his black Mercedes-Benz around 9 p.m. on May 1, 2012. The successful 20th Century Fox movie executive was never seen alive again. Gavin Smith was last seen pulling away from his friend’s house in Oak Park, Calif., in a black Mercedes-Benz around 9 p.m. on May 1, 2012. The successful 20th Century Fox movie executive was never seen alive again.
More than two years after his disappearance, Los Angeles police say they have identified remains found in the Angeles National Forest as Smith’s, bringing to a close a long painful chapter for his family. Now, more than two years after Smith’s disappearance, Los Angeles police say they have identified remains found in the Angeles National Forest as Smith’s, bringing to a close a long and painful chapter for his family.
The long-decomposed human remains and clothing were found by hikers on Sept. 26 in a shallow grave in a remote part of the forest near Palmdale, according to NBC4.The long-decomposed human remains and clothing were found by hikers on Sept. 26 in a shallow grave in a remote part of the forest near Palmdale, according to NBC4.
The mystery surrounding the successful executive, who was a liaison between theaters in Dallas and Oklahoma City and the movie studio, has lingered even while hope that he would ever be found alive had ebbed. The mystery surrounding the entertainment executive, who was a liaison between theaters in Dallas and Oklahoma City and the Hollywood movie studio, lingered even while hope that he would ever be found alive had ebbed.
For a year after he vanished, police found no trace of him. And Smith, a 6-foot 6-inch former college basketball player, actor, and father of three, would have been hard to miss. For a year after he vanished, police found no trace of him. And Smith, an actor, father of three and 6-foot 6-inch former college basketball player for John Wooden’s UCLA teams, would have been hard to miss.
“He had a million-dollar smile,” his only sister Tara Addeo told NBC 4. “He had a million-dollar smile,” his only sister, Tara Addeo, told NBC4.
His wife Lisa Smith said early on that she believed he was murdered. In an interview, she acknowledged that they had struggled with infidelity, drug addiction, and money woes. His wife, Lisa Smith, said early on that she believed he was murdered. In an interview, she acknowledged that they had struggled with infidelity, drug addiction, and money woes.
“Do I feel betrayed? Of course, I loved him dearly,” Smith told “Inside Edition” in 2012.  “Do I feel betrayed? Of course, I loved him dearly,” Smith told “Inside Edition” in 2012.
Months later, in March 2013, police had a major break. Smith’s luxury car was found in a storage facility that belonged to a known drug dealer named John Creech. Months later, in March 2013, police had a major break: Smith’s luxury car was found in a storage facility that belonged to a known drug dealer named John Creech.
At that point, police were convinced that Smith’s disappearance was a homicide. Detectives called Smith’s sister Addeo in Nevada to break the news, according to NBC4. At that point, police were convinced that Smith’s disappearance was a homicide. Detectives called Smith’s sister, Addeo, in Nevada to break the news, according to NBC4.
“He said I don’t know how to tell you this but Gavin isn’t coming back,” Addeo recalled. “There was enough biological evidence to prove that Gavin was killed.”“He said I don’t know how to tell you this but Gavin isn’t coming back,” Addeo recalled. “There was enough biological evidence to prove that Gavin was killed.”
Creech, who is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for an unrelated charge, remains a person of interest. When Smith’s car was found, police executed a search warrant at Creech’s home but found nothing that would lead to Smith’s body or his killer. Smith was allegedly having an affiar with Creech’s wife Chandrika Creech, who he had met while in rehabilitation. But Creech’s defense attorney told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012 that they had never met. Creech, who is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for an unrelated charge, remains a person of interest in the case. When Smith’s car was found, police executed a search warrant at Creech’s home but found nothing that would lead to Smith’s body — or to his killer.
Smith was declared legally dead in May 2014. Smith was allegedly having an affiar with Creech’s wife, Chandrika Creech, whom he had met while in rehabilitation. But Creech’s defense attorney told the Hollywood Reporter in 2012 that they had never met.
Smith was declared legally dead on May 1, 2014 — two years to the day after his disappearance.
Autopsy results are pending, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, though a coroner’s official told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that it may never be known how Smith died.
“It could be months, if ever, worst-case scenario,” coroner’s Lt. David Smith said, according to the Times.
[This post has been updated.]