Family Drives Investigation Of Son's San Juan Capistrano Murder

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —Friday night, ABC 20/20 revealed untold secrets behind the murder of Laguna Beach businessman Chris Smith by his partner, Edward Shin, in 2010.

Smith disappeared out of his friends' and family's lives forever in 2010. Loved ones only received emails, notes about his extravagant life, but over time, their suspicions grew.

Paul Smith, Chris's brother, discussed the family's suspicions on 20/20's podcast series, "Cutthroat Inc.," debuting on Feb. 27.

"I don't know many brothers that were as close as we were," Paul Smith said. "We just had a unique bond. Ever since I was really little, he felt like he was there to protect me, to provide for me."

In June 2010, an email from Chris told the family that he was setting off on a journey around the world. Work stresses had brought the free-spirited man down, so at first, it made sense to his loved ones that he would take off for South America. Follow up emails reassured them that he was living in search of his best life.
After one year of no phone calls from Chris Smith, the family grew suspicious.

Paul Smith ran a test for the e-mailer supposed to be his brother, writing questions for detailed family information. Though answered correctly, still, something seemed off, according to Paul Smith.

The next step was to talk to Chris Smith's business partner, who would know more details.

Only after detailed investigation did they learn that his business partner, Edward Shin, assumed Smith's identity to cover up his murder.

Though Smith's blood was found spattered across the pair's San Juan Capistrano office, the body has never been found. It only took the Orange County jury one hour of deliberations before convicting him of first-degree murder, with a special circumstance of killing for financial gain.

ABC 20/20's new Podcast, Cutthroat, Inc., hosted by Matt Gutman, will review the case with an in-depth interview with Shin from behind bars.

The chilling expose promises to be a win for 20/20. Gutman describes the events that led to the murder, the bizarre identity theft where Shin duped Smith's entire family for a whole year.
"People believed Shin because Smith was a surfer with wanderlust stitched into his DNA, and he had been investing in gold coins," an ABC spokesperson said in a release.

It is now ten years later. Shin has admitted that he "accidentally" killed Smith, though he denies an intentional murder took place.
Former Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy, who tried and won the case, insisted Shin is lying, ABC says.

What's more, Smith's body has never been found.

In the interview, Gutman asks Shin, point-blank, where Smith's body is. After all, Shin said under oath that he hoped one day to help police find his former partner's remains.

Though he nods affirmation on camera, Shin remains tight-lipped.

"I can't talk about that … because I don't know," Shin told '20/20.' "There is no way I can get into that at this point … I wish I could tell you more, but there's something bigger that I just can't talk about."

What that "bigger" thing is, and other circumstances surrounding the murder and cover-up was the focus of a 14-month interview process by ABC News reporter Matt Gutman.

Gutman spent hours visiting Shin in jail, talking with him over a dozen phone calls, and exchanged letters with him, trying to understand what motivated this murder and to learn where Smith's body may be, ABC said.

The full report will air on "20/20" FRIDAY, Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Read:
Suspect Arrested in Killing of Laguna Beach Man
San Juan Capistrano Businessman Found Guilty Of Killing Partner