The Gavin Smith disappearance and murder is unraveled in Netflix docuseries

A new true crime documentary on Netflix investigates the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood executive Gavin Smith. The 57-year-old executive at 20th Century Fox and father of three, went missing on May 1, 2012. The show aims to uncover the truth behind this Hollywood figure's sudden and unexplained disappearance.

The docuseries 'Homicide: Los Angeles' focuses on Smith's tragic story in episode four, 'A Hollywood Affair." The episode shows Smith's painkiller problem and how his affairs wrecked his marriage. On the night of his disappearance, Smith secretly met with Chandrika Cade, a woman he had previously been involved with.

Investigators initially explored multiple theories, including the possibility that Smith's wife, Lisa, had arranged his murder or that he had run away. Phone records pointed cops to John Creech, Cade's husband a known drug dealer.

Hikers stumbled upon Smith's body in a shallow Angeles National Forest grave two years later, 70 miles from where he vanished. Creech faced murder charges in 2015 for Smith's death.

At Creech's 2017 trial, the prosecution painted the killing as shockingly violent. Cade testified that Creech had followed her to her meeting with Smith and brutally attacked him while Cade begged for him to stop. The coroner said Smith's skull was crushed on both sides.

Creech was charged with a voluntary manslaughter conviction and 11 years in prison. Cade was not charged in exchange for her testimony.

Smith's wife, Lisa, told the Los Angeles Times that while devastated by the loss, she was relieved to know her husband had not abandoned the family. "For the rest of the world to know that he didn't leave us is huge. He would have never done that," she said.

Before his career at 20th Century Fox, Smith had been a star basketball player in high school and at UCLA. Smith tried his hand at stunt work and dreamed of acting before landing in movie distribution.

Smith helped distribute famous movies such as 'Avatar' and the Star Wars trilogy.

'Homicide: Los Angeles' is now streaming on Netflix.