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Remains of missing Hollywood executive found near Palmdale

by The AV Times Staff • November 6, 2014

Gavin Smith, an executive at 20th Century Fox and a former actor, was last seen on May 1, 2012 in Oak Park, Calif.
Gavin Smith, an executive at 20th Century Fox and a former actor, was last seen on May 1, 2012 at a friend’s home in Oak Park, Calif.

PALMDALE – Human remains found in a rural area near Palmdale last week have been positively identified as Gavin Smith, a Fox studio executive who went missing more than two years ago, authorities said.

“Sheriff’s homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of Gavin Smith, who was last seen at a friend’s residence on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, between 9 and 10 p.m.,” officials said in a statement from the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. “The results of the autopsy have not been finalized and the cause of death has not yet been determined.”

Hikers discovered a human skull during the morning of Sunday, Oct. 26 in the hills south of Mount Emma Road at 47th Street East, according to local media reports. Investigators later found more human remains nearby.

Authorities announced Wednesday that the remains were positively identified as those of Gavin Smith by Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office personnel, but have released no additional information.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

Smith’s disappearance was covered by national and international media in 2012. Numerous searches were conducted for the 57-year-old and a $20,000 reward was offered. Read more here, here, and here. Smith was declared legally dead on May 1, 2014.

2012 television report on Smith’s disappearance

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

12 comments for "Remains of missing Hollywood executive found near Palmdale"

  1. joe says

    November 7, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Another Miracle on 47th Street.

  2. John says

    November 6, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    No biggy. Just another day in the AV.

  3. Coincidence? says

    November 6, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    crazy…. if you google maps that intersection and zoom in… there is another crime scene right there on the corner of 47th east and Mount Emma Road exactly

    • David says

      November 6, 2014 at 7:09 pm

      Yep, sure as sh!t…must be a popular spot to dump your dead.

      • Lisa says

        November 6, 2014 at 7:48 pm

        Yep, or run away from them.

      • Uguess says

        November 6, 2014 at 11:13 pm

        No different than the deserts in Nevada/Arizona. I would hate to see what would be unearthed should we have a major quake and flood. Not to mention dem der hills!

  4. nope says

    November 6, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    You do wrong, bad will come back to get ya.
    Sooner or later, it’s called karma.

  5. Paul says

    November 6, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    Sad, bat as I discovered decades ago, if you want to hide something, do it in Palmdale. Tom Bradley did.

    • John says

      November 6, 2014 at 5:03 pm

      What did Tom Bradley hide in Palmdale?

  6. bird says

    November 6, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    He took a walk on the wild side and didn’t make it out.

  7. MR. PERPLEXED says

    November 6, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    ACCORDING TO THE LA TIMES, THE REMAINS WERE FOUND IN A SHALLOW GRAVE AT 47TH ST EAST AND MOUNT EMMA ROAD

  8. xskumbum says

    November 6, 2014 at 10:37 am

    just goes to show.. ya never know when someone might plot to kill you.. in this crazy world… ya just never know…

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