Remains of Gavin Smith found and positively identified

The remains of missing Fox movie distribution executive Gavin Smith were found by hikers on Oct. 26 and have been positively identified, media are reporting based on the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and the Sheriff's Department. Beyond that, the details are a little bit all over the place. The Los Angeles Times story says the body was found "in a rural area of Palmdale in the High Desert." That would place the location in the Mojave Desert. Other media are saying the remains were found in the Angeles National Forest, which rises above the desert. Variety places the spot as "near Acton," which could be true enough of either location. It sounds as if Fox 11 reported the news first, on the air.

The discovery should bring some closure to family members. Smith disappeared May 1, 2012, when he was 57 years old — last seen leaving a friend's house in the Ventura County community of Oak Park. His missing Mercedes-Benz was found in February 2013 in a Simi Valley storage facility linked to the husband of a woman who Smith met in rehab.

Smith, a longtime Fox distribution employee, played basketball for UCLA in the 1970s.

Here's the sheriff's news release:

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 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.

On Sunday morning October 26, 2014, hikers discovered human remains in a rural area of Palmdale. The remains were positively identified as those of Gavin Smith by Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office personnel.

The results of the autopsy have not been finalized and the cause of death has not yet been determined.