The 20/20 episode “Cutthroat Inc.” investigates the death of 33-year-old Chris Smith. He founded the lead generation company 800Xchange in San Juan Capistrano, California with his friend and business partner Edward Shin. Months after Smith was found dead, Shin was arrested for Smith’s murder.
Shin had posed as Smith through emails to family and friends — claiming to be on an extravagant surfing trip — for six months in an attempt to cover up the slaying. [NOTE: Watch on your phone with the ABC GO Digital App found here. Download is FREE.]
Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said Smith and Shin disagreed about settling expensive law suits brought on by former employers who alleged fraud and embezzlement. Shin said during a physical “fight gone bad” in their office, Smith accidentally and fatally hit his head on his desk. Shin did not call 911. Instead he called someone to help him find a person to dispose of the body.
Shin testified that he gave the man, who he did not know, either $10,000 or $15,000 in cash, and gave directions to the office where Smith’s body was located. When Shin returned to the office later, he claims, the body was gone.
So he could clean up the blood-soaked carpets and repaint the blood-splattered walls, Shin told employees to take the week off and gave them bonuses.
At the murder trial, Shin claimed he doesn’t know where the body is. “I promise you I did not want Chris dead,” Shin told the judge. “If I could find him for them, I would. I don’t know where he is.”
In February 2019, Shin was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
20/20 is airing a jailhouse interview with Shin insists that he doesn’t know what happened to Smith’s remains but says there’s more to the story. “You have to think about it,” Shin tells 20/20. “If someone’s willing to give up his life to protect a secret, there’s a reason.” 20/20 airs Fridays at 9 pm on ABC. [Watch on your phone with the ABC GO Digital App found here. Download is FREE.]
