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Dateline has revisited one of the most terrifying stories of business betrayal in modern times: entrepreneur Chris Smith's killing and identity theft conspiracy in secret. Dateline and NBC News have featured it in shows such as Dateline Unforgettable and "In a Lonely Place," highlighting its national significance.
Chris Smith, a 31-year-old California surfer and businessman, went missing in June 2010 after partnering with Ed Shin to establish the lead-generation firm 800XChange. The duo seemed successful, but Shin was secretly grappling with enormous gambling debts and restitution fees, in addition to a prior charge of embezzlement.
As the show described, Chris had grown suspicious of Shin's business dealings and was reportedly considering ending their business partnership when he vanished.
Here is a complete timeline of Chris Smith's murder
1. Chris Smith's disappearance and deceptive emails
In June 2010, Chris Smith informed friends that he was selling his stake in the business and planning a world tour. His family continued to receive emails—allegedly from him—detailing travels to distant locations such as the Galapagos Islands, South Africa, and Somalia, sometimes accompanied by a Playboy centerfold model. Dateline-quality reporting underscored how these messages fostered false hope at the expense of reality.
2. Email hoax exposed
By January 2011, Chris's family suspected something was wrong. Investigators discovered the emails came from within the U.S., not overseas. Forensic testing at the old 800XChange office found blood splatter confirmed to be from Chris. The show revealed how this evidence shattered the imagined travel narrative, exposing a darker stain.
3. Investigative breakthrough
Following these revelations, law enforcement intensified its investigation of Ed Shin. He was arrested in August 2011 at Los Angeles International Airport while attempting to leave the country, likely for Canada. Subpoenaed, Shin wavered between denial and self-defense excuses before claiming that Chris accidentally hit his head during the fight. The show's coverage highlighted the conflicting accounts and the deliberate nature of the email hoax thereafter.
4. Conviction for first-degree murder
In December 2018, after weeks of hearings, Shin was found guilty of first-degree murder for financial gain and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors deemed the act "diabolical," highlighting Shin's fraud, including the murder and pretending to be Chris online to control the business finances. Dateline reported the conviction as a significant milestone in revealing Shin's con.
5. The lost body stays under wraps
One eerie question remains: Where is Chris Smith's body? Shin, even in prison during interviews with Dateline and ABC, has never revealed its location, saying: "There are just some secrets a man is willing to give up his life for." Authorities have searched possible dumping sites, such as desert areas along the Mexican border, but found nothing. Dateline stories highlight how this ongoing mystery unsettles investigators and the family.
The role of Dateline in the case
While it didn't air a full "Missing in America" episode on this story, segments like "In a Lonely Place" are part of public discourse. Dateline included interviews with Shin (through Keith Morrison), presenting forensic evidence, motive, and deception. These episodes were echoed on national shows and true-crime series, highlighting how financial necessity and planned identity theft led to disaster.
Comparative reporting by the media outlets ABC (20/20), People, Oxygen, and American Greed corroborates the factual record: financial hardship led to murder, aided by online impersonation and false flight stories. The show continues to be a dominant force in factual case reporting, supported by court documents, interviews, and forensic data.
Why this story works
The Shin-Smith case was Dateline's alone for the reasons outlined below:
Identity theft for a cover-up: Shin's email scam introduced months of deception, manipulating his victim's emotions.
Motive for cash: Past embezzlement and gambling debt created lethal pressure.
Absence of the body: Even after conviction, the missing remains render the case incomplete and emotionally distressing.
Media synergy: The show and other networks' nationwide coverage drew attention to a case involving business betrayal and high-tech crime plotting.
This episode showcases Dateline's investigative approach—fact-based, detail-oriented, and centered on the surprising intersection of greed, murder, and manipulation. While the public is left to wonder where Chris Smith stands, the evidence of financial motive, email forgery, and profit-driven murder are clear, conclusive, and provable.
Trending
Dateline's reports—along with NBC News, ABC, Oxygen, People, and others—present the complete journey of the Shin-Smith case, from the mystifying disappearance to a courtroom conviction. The mystery of Chris Smith's missing body remains unresolved, highlighting a harsh reality: some crimes conceal secrets worse than conviction, and the show continues to chart their path in search of closure.
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