Fox Film Executive Missing Since 2012 Officially Declared Dead By Sheriff's Department

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The LA County Sheriff's Department has officially declared missing Fox film executive Gavin Smith dead.

Smith, then 57, went missing two years ago to the day under mysterious circumstances.

Lt. Dave Dolson of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department told reporters Wednesday that a judge has ruled a death certificate be ordered for Smith even though his body was never found.

John Creech, a convicted drug dealer, was named as a person of interest in Smith's possible murder last year. Creech is currently serving eight years in prison on drug charges.

Smith reportedly met Creech's wife, Chandrika, while they were in rehab. The exact nature of their relationship was never established.

Smith, a former UCLA basketball player, was last seen leaving the Oak Park home of a friend on May 1, 2012. The date on the death certificate lists May 1, 2012 as the date of death.

The missing man and his black Mercedes-Benz 420E disappeared without a trace.

His family held many vigils and kept media attention in the case alive for more than a year.

Last February, Smith's car was discovered in a Simi Valley storage facility. Creech was linked to the storage unit.

Detectives said evidence in the car led them to believe Smith had been murdered.

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