Crime & Safety
Deputies Serve Search Warrant, Hunt Missing Fox Exec in Canoga Park
Gavin Smith's family announced a $20,000 reward.
Deputies Friday served a search warrant in the Canoga Park area in connection with the May 1 disappearance of 20th Century Fox executive and former UCLA basketball player Gavin Smith.
The warrant was served in the 8600 block of Santa Susana Place, Steve Whitmore of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
"Information led us to this location in relation to the investigation into this missing-persons case," Whitmore said. "This is an ongoing investigation."
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On Tuesday, Smith's family announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to him.
The 57-year-old Smith last was seen May 1 in the Ventura County community of Oak Park. He was driving a 2000 black Mercedes-Benz 420 E with tinted windows, a roof rack and California license 6EKT044.
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Smith is white, about 6 feet 6 inches tall and has graying blond hair and green eyes.
Smith has a goatee, a roughly 4-inch scar on his right inner wrist and a 5-inch scar on one of his calves, according to the sheriff's detectives.
In 1975, Smith was a member of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's last national championship team.
Smith's three sons have searched along canyon roads for their father's car to no avail.
A man from Wisconsin told broadcast outlets he spotted Smith and woman in a Morro Bay restaurant on May 7, but did not realize who he was until he read about his disappearance the next day.
Smith, who lives in West Hills, is a long-time Fox distribution executive who worked in Calabasas. He was last seen driving away from a friend's home in the 500 block of Kellwood Court, where he had been staying.
Smith's family has set up a website -- findgavinsmith.com.
His son, Evan Smith, is a forward on the USC basketball team and has turned to Twitter in an attempt to find his father.
Anyone with more information as to his whereabouts was asked to call detectives at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://lacrimestopers.org.
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