5 Shocking Details Of The Chris Smith Murder: The Untold Story Of Ed Shin's Deception And The Missing Body

The true crime case of Christopher Ryan Smith and Edward Younghoon Shin remains one of Orange County, California's, most chilling and perplexing mysteries. This story of entrepreneurial ambition turning into a deadly financial dispute has been brought back into the public eye with recent media coverage in Dateline NBC and various true crime podcasts, underscoring the enduring questions surrounding the 2010 murder. As of December 11, 2025, the killer, Ed Shin, is serving a life sentence, yet the victim’s body has never been recovered, leaving the Smith family without full closure.

The case is a cautionary tale about the dark side of business partnerships, involving a sophisticated impersonation scheme that fooled family members, friends, and clients for months. The evidence presented during the sensational trial painted a picture of cold-blooded, calculated murder driven by financial greed and a desperate need to cover up mounting debt and fraud.

The Victims and the Killer: A Biographical Profile

The story centers on two men who met as co-workers in the Southern California lead generation industry before becoming business partners in a new venture.

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Christopher Ryan Smith (The Victim)

• Full Name: Christopher Ryan Smith (Christopher "Chris" Smith)
• Age at Death: 32 or 33 years old
• Residence: Laguna Beach, California
• Profession: Entrepreneur, Co-owner of 800xchange, an Internet advertising business
• Date of Murder: June 4, 2010
• Status: Body has never been found

Edward Younghoon Shin (The Killer)

• Full Name: Edward "Ed" Younghoon Shin
• Residence: Irvine, California
• Profession: Businessman, Co-owner of 800xchange
• Criminal History (Pre-Murder): Had a history of financial crimes, including pleading guilty to stealing sales leads from a previous employer
• Conviction Date: December 2018
• Charges: First-degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for murder for financial gain
• Sentence: Life without the possibility of parole (LWOP)

The Fatal Financial Dispute at 800xchange

The relationship between Chris Smith and Ed Shin began like many business partnerships, founded on a shared professional background. They co-founded 800xchange, an internet advertising and lead generation company, operating out of an office in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County.

However, the partnership was quickly poisoned by Shin’s deceit and financial desperation. Shin, who had a history of gambling and financial instability, reportedly began stealing from the company and his partner.

The financial dispute came to a head in June 2010. Prosecutors, led by Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy, argued that Smith had become a "big problem" for Shin.

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On June 4, 2010, the conflict turned deadly. Shin murdered Smith in the 800xchange office. The motive was clear: murder for financial gain, allowing Shin to take control of the business and Smith's assets, which he desperately needed to cover his mounting debts and a double life involving gambling.

Evidence presented at trial was gruesome, indicating a violent attack. Investigators found Smith's blood splattered on the walls, ceiling, and desk inside the San Juan Capistrano office.

The Elaborate and Chilling Impersonation Scheme

What sets the Ed Shin case apart is the extraordinary and prolonged effort he made to cover up the murder by impersonating his victim. For months after the murder, Shin crafted an elaborate scheme to make it appear as though Chris Smith was alive and well, but traveling the world.

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The Fake Emails and Deception

Shin sent hundreds of emails from Smith's account to Smith's family, girlfriend, and business contacts. These emails claimed that Smith had suddenly sold his share of 800xchange to Shin and had decided to "travel to parts unknown."

• The Lie: The emails suggested Smith had impulsively dumped his long-time girlfriend, was traveling in Africa and Australia, and was pursuing a new life.
• The Goal: The scheme was designed to buy Shin time to liquidate Smith's assets, including his Laguna Beach home and bank accounts, and to prevent anyone from filing a missing person report.
• The Flaw: The emails began to contain suspicious details, such as Smith, a known meticulous communicator, making unusual spelling and grammatical errors. Furthermore, he was "selling" his business for far less than its value and was ignoring crucial financial obligations.

The Unpaid Bills and the Investigation

The deception began to unravel when unpaid bills and financial irregularities surfaced. Smith's family and friends grew increasingly suspicious of the sudden, out-of-character behavior.

Investigators eventually traced the emails back to Shin, discovering that he had been accessing Smith's accounts and sending the fraudulent communications. This electronic trail of deceit became a cornerstone of the prosecution's case. Shin was arrested in 2011, a year after the murder.

The Trial, Conviction, and the Enduring Mystery

The trial for the murder of Chris Smith began years after Shin's arrest. Shin took the stand in his own defense, claiming that Smith's death was an accident that occurred during a physical fight in the office.

However, the prosecution successfully argued that the extensive blood evidence and the subsequent, calculated impersonation scheme proved the crime was a premeditated murder for financial gain. The jury ultimately rejected Shin's defense.

In December 2018, Ed Shin was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances. He was sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he will spend the rest of his life incarcerated for the crime.

The Missing Body and Lack of Closure

Despite the conviction, the case of Chris Smith is not fully closed. To this day, the body of Christopher Ryan Smith has never been found.

Ed Shin continues to maintain that he does not know the location of the body, a claim that the prosecution and Smith's family find difficult to believe. The lack of a body means the Smith family has been denied the fundamental right to properly mourn and lay their loved one to rest. The search for Smith's remains, which has involved investigators across Orange County and San Diego, remains an ongoing, painful aspect of the case.

The enduring mystery of the missing body is a central theme in the continued public interest in the case, including the 2024 media updates, which focus on the hope that Shin may one day reveal the truth to provide closure to the victim's family.