Authorities are asking for the public’s help in the search for a 20th Century Fox distribution executive and former UCLA basketball player last seen in Ventura County’s Oak Park community nearly a week ago.
Gavin Smith, 57, who works out of a Calabasas office, was reported missing Tuesday night.
He was last seen driving away from a friend’s home in the 500 block of Callwood Court in Oak Park in the Simi Hills between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday in a black 2000 Mercedes-Benz 420E with tinted windows and a roof rack, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The license on the car is 6EKT044.
“He has employment connections in Calabasas and family connections in West Hills,” according to a Sheriff’s Department statement.
Smith is White, about 6 feet 6, 210 pounds, with green eyes, gray hair with blond highlights, 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 statement.
He was a member of UCLA’s 1975 national championship men’s basketball team, the last title won by legendary Bruin head coach John Wooden.
Smith’s family is also searching for him. His sister, Tara Addeo, came to Los Angeles from Nevada.
“This is so surreal” Addeo told KCAL9 Saturday. “There are no words to describe how you feel when you’re in this situation. My flight here was very sad. I wish I wasn’t here under these circumstances. But we are here and we’re trying our best to deal with this as a family.”
Smith’s son, Evan Smith, was a forward on USC basketball team this past season. The younger Smith turned to Twitter Saturday in an effort to help find his father.
“Please help me find my dad Gavin Smith,” he tweeted. “More people looking the better.”
Smith has worked for Fox for nearly 18 years.
“We are very concerned about Gavin,” said Chris Aronson, president of Fox distribution”. “We are actively doing what we can to assist the L.A. Sheriff’s Department.”
Anyone with information on Smith’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective T. Abraham or Detective C. Carnes at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://lacrimestopers.org.
