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Dateline has revisited the sensational case of Ed Shin, a Southern California businessman whose involvement in the disappearance and murder of his business associate, Chris Smith, made national headlines. Smith went missing in June 2010 after allegedly selling his interest in their business, 800XChange—a debt consolidation and online marketing firm started by both men. That was followed by a complicated online hoax involving emails allegedly from Smith, discussing a rich life full of worldwide adventures.
His family believed for a few months that he had abandoned business and responsibility to travel the world. Suspicions soon arose, though, when no one had heard or seen him in person. Later, investigators determined that those emails were not sent by Smith but by Shin from across the United States. Something much more sinister was taking place behind the scenes.
A history of troubled business
According to Dateline, Ed Shin and Chris Smith started 800XChange in 2009, but the company's partnership was fraught. Shin had a history of conviction for embezzlement and had also agreed to pay out millions of dollars in restitution. That being the case, Smith implemented safeguards to keep company assets out of reach, including joint authorization for finances.
Despite measures being taken, Shin later went on to forge documents to take complete control of the business. They had strained relations, and the next buyout arrangement was one of the last known actions taken by Smith before his disappearance.
The disappearance and false narrative
As per Dateline, Smith's disappearance was preceded by a chain of highly sophisticated emails from his account. The letters cast him as globe-trotting across Asia, peddling gold and leading a free-spirited existence in far-off California. Yet probes turned up no evidence of international travel—Smith's passport was idle.
The emails were traced to US IP addresses, and inconsistencies in their tone only served to raise more suspicions. Law enforcers concluded that Shin had fabricated the entire tale to keep a low profile and continue operating the business on his own.
Crime scene forensics and evidence
Dateline revealed that the investigation reached a turning point when a private detective hired by Smith's family found traces of blood at the former 800XChange office in San Juan Capistrano. Chris Smith's blood was verified by tests. Other forensic evidence, including blood on Smith's Range Rover, suggested foul play.
During this time, Shin had told the workers to work from home, a decision subsequently consistent with the estimated timeline of Smith's death. The office, having been evacuated, was a hub for reconstructing events.
Arrest and conviction
According to Dateline, Ed Shin was arrested in August 2011 at Los Angeles International Airport attempting to fly to Canada. He had initially explained to investigators that Smith had died after a fight but that he panicked and could not explain the rest. However, authorities also found documents that had been forged, transferring Smith's share of ownership to Shin, further discrediting his story.
In 2018, after years of litigation, Shin was found guilty of first-degree murder with special circumstances—financial gain. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Unanswered questions and the missing body
Despite the conviction, though, one major question remains: where is Chris Smith's body? Shin never revealed what happened to the body, and law enforcement has not been able to recover it.
This part of the case continues to cause anguish to Smith's family, who have still not achieved full closure. The absence of a body contributes to a degree of complexity to an already lying-and-betrayal-filled case.
Sustained public interest and Dateline's role
The Ed Shin and Chris Smith case has been featured on true crime TV, including Dateline, where the psychological manipulation and business scam upon which the case is founded were explored. The show spanned the timeline from the men's alliance to the cyber cover-up and eventual conviction.
With its combination of white-collar scams, cyber deception, and open-ended tragedy, the case remains on the radar screen of both legal experts and the public eye.
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This real-life story reflects how unbridled financial greed spiraled out of control and rolled over into irreparable harm. The Dateline segment is a complete recount of how masterfully crafted deception unraveled under scrutiny and the way one family remains left, reaching out for the truth.
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