OC Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Killing His Business Partner
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Orange County sheriff's investigators arrested an Irvine man suspected of killing his business partner last year in San Juan Capistrano.
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Ed Younghoon Shin, 33, was being held without bail in Orange County jail on suspicion of murdering 32-year-old Christopher Ryan Smith.
The two men were co-owners of 800 Exchange, a company that generated media leads for advertisers, Orange County Assistant Sheriff Mark Billings said.
They had a dispute about the business and Smith wanted out, Billings said. The business partners had apparently agreed Smith would be paid $1 million upon leaving the company.
According to investigators, Smith was last seen alive in June of last year.
Billings claimed Shin killed Smith to avoid making the payment. He allegedly covered up the evidence of the crime, including painting over blood stains and used Smith's email account to convince his family into thinking he was on an "extended vacation."
Shin was arrested about 11 a.m. Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport as he was about to board a flight for Canada, Orange County sheriff's investigator Don Voght said.
The body of Christopher Ryan Smith has not been recovered. Investigators asked anyone with information to call (714) 647-7048 or (714) 628-7170.
