Family members of a Laguna Beach man believed to have been killed by his business partner released a statement describing him as a compassionate, energetic and passionate man.
They asked that anyone with information about where his body is should contact authorities.His father, Steve Smith, said family and friends could not speak about his son’s killing so as to not damage the investigation. But family members released a written statement, describing Christopher Ryan Smith as an active and athletic man looking to make his mark in the business world.
“Thinking outside the box was almost automatic for him when looking at an idea, concept, or something considered fact,” the statement read.
But law enforcement officials said Smith’s life was cut short when he was killed in June 2010. This week, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department announced they arrested Smith’s business partner, Edward Younghoon Shin, on suspicion of murder.
Smith and Shin were business partners for about two years as co-owners of 800xchange, an ad agency based in San Juan Capistrano. Investigators believe the two men had a falling out in 2010 and Smith wanted out. Smith was supposed to be paid $1 million to be bought out of the company, but authorities believe he was instead killed in the San Juan Capistrano offices in June 2010.
After Smith was killed, however, authorities said family members continued to receive emails and messages from Smith, some of which described trips and vacations outside California.
For months, friends and family harbored suspicions about Smith’s disappearance, but they continued to receive messages.
“It wasn’t the typical email (Smith) would send,” said Lt. Jason Kravetz of the Laguna Beach Department. “Different words, short, strange.”
http://liarcatchers.com/wrongful_death.html
Family members hired a private investigator to locate Smith and, in April, Steve Smith reported his son missing to the Laguna Beach Police Department.
“The past year has been an otherworldly time spent overwhelmed with misinformation and uncertainty,” read the statement from Smith’s family. “As the truth behind events is revealed, we ask for privacy as we cope with the surge of emotions and begin to grieve.”
According to relatives, Smith grew up in Watsonville.
“He spent summers learning how to water ski and wakeboard on (Kelly Lake) and doing junior lifeguards at Manresa State Beach,” the statement read.
He became a professional wakeboarder in the 1990s, but his career ended due to an injury that hurt his knee and blew out his Achilles tendon.
He then turned his attention toward Internet businesses such as swellster.com, a surfing social website, and localprofit.com, an internet wholesale search engine.
“He had an incredibly ability to understand complex systems and carry out his ideas with perfect execution,” read the statement. “Everything he set his mind to he was able to build or become great at.”
He remained active, traveling often, skydiving and wakeboarding.
“Chris held a special love for his two nieces, showering them with gifts and enjoying an occasional water-balloon fight. He always lost.”
Smith eventually moved to Laguna Beach, and authorities said he went into business with Shin in 800xchange,
A month before the killing, Shin was convicted of embezzlement and ordered to pay restitution. He was also sued by his former employer just as he and Smith had a falling out, authorities said.
After being questioned for hours, investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Shin admitted to killing Smith in their San Juan Capistrano offices.
Authorities said Shin went through extensive measures to hide the killing, including cleaning and repainting the offices.
Investigators have also arrested Shin’s personal assistant, Kenny Roy Kraft, 34, whom they allege helped Shin get rid of Smith’s vehicle. The 2009 Range Rover was found in San Jose, and authorities said Kraft also helped Shin get rid of Smith’s clothes and other possessions.
Kraft has been charged with being an accessory after a crime.
Where Smith’s body is located is still unknown, officials said.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7048 or 714-628-7170.
