Dateline — In a Lonely Place
NBC News · Keith Morrison · December 6, 2019
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2010 · San Juan Capistrano, California
Chris Smith & Edward Shin
A business partner’s emails concealed a California killing
California entrepreneur Chris Smith’s family received emails suggesting he had left his business behind to travel. Investigators later found that his business partner, Edward Shin, had killed him in their San Juan Capistrano office in June 2010 and impersonated him afterward. An Orange County jury convicted Shin of murder for financial gain in 2018. Dateline later interviewed Shin after his life sentence, examining the business relationship and the messages that had misled Smith’s loved ones.
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When2010
WhereSan Juan Capistrano, California
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In a Lonely Place — Dateline NBC audio edition
Dateline NBC · Keith Morrison · August 19, 2025
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NBC News · Keith Morrison · December 6, 2019
Dateline — In a Lonely Place
NBC’s announcement verifies this installment and its interview with Shin after his conviction and life sentence. The program investigates the false impression that Smith was traveling abroad. Use the district attorney’s verdict release to compare the broadcast with the prosecution’s case summary.
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Episode data: TVmaze · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Dateline NBC · Keith Morrison · August 19, 2025
In a Lonely Place — Dateline NBC audio edition
An official audio release of Dateline’s reporting on Smith’s disappearance and the messages sent to his family. The episode page identifies the reporter and listening format. Treat the listed podcast publication date separately from the date of the original television investigation.
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Orange County jury convicts Edward Shin of murder
The prosecutor’s verdict announcement describes the business relationship, the financial-gain finding and the effort to conceal Smith’s death. It predates sentencing, so its reference to a maximum sentence should not be confused with a sentencing order or current custody record.
Orange County District Attorney · December 7, 2018
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