Dateline NBC — Talking Dateline: In a Lonely Place

Host: Blaine Alexander
Guest: Keith Morrison
Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of Talking Dateline explores the true-crime mystery "In a Lonely Place," which tells the story of charismatic California entrepreneur Chris Smith, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Initially believed to have vanished on a spontaneous trip around the world, Chris’s fate is ultimately uncovered to be far darker: his business partner Ed Shin murdered him, skillfully weaving a web of deception through forged emails and elaborate lies. Host Blaine Alexander and correspondent Keith Morrison break down the case, offer behind-the-scenes perspectives, and field questions from listeners.

Main Discussion & Key Insights

Setting the Stage: Chris Smith’s Disappearance

• Chris Smith was portrayed as a free-spirited, unconventional traveler, making his apparent decision to travel the world plausible to those who knew him.
• The deception: Ed Shin, Chris’s business partner, skillfully forged emails over a year, convincing Chris’s family he was alive and well.
  • Keith Morrison (03:00): "These emails were done so skillfully and the play that Ed Shin made was so skillful that the family truly was...you want your loved one to be alive. And every email that came along was one that supported that idea."

Character Study: California Dreaming

• Chris fit the stereotype of the wandering, adventurous Californian surfer—a lifestyle Keith Morrison describes as quintessential to the state.
  • Keith Morrison (04:08): “This is a state that invites people to live a certain kind of lifestyle, and Chris embraced that…they just blend together in a strange mix that is intoxicating.”
• Chris and Ed were opposites, making their business partnership all the more striking. Ed was reserved and businesslike, hiding a double life marked by compulsive gambling.

The Deception and Ed Shin’s Double Life

• Ed Shin was intelligent and manipulative, leading a “Jekyll and Hyde” existence.
  • Keith Morrison (05:06): “He didn’t know [Ed] very well. Clearly didn’t know him well enough. Didn’t realize that Ed had a dark side...There are people who can do that. They can have double lives.”
• Prosecutor Matt Murphy recognized signs that didn't fit Chris’s lifestyle (e.g., leaving behind surfboards), aiding the prosecution.
• Ed was labeled a con man and demonstrated calculated control and denial even when confronted.

Keith’s Jail Interview with Ed Shin

• The rare opportunity to interview Ed Shin in prison provided dramatic insight into his manipulative tactics and refusal to confess.
  • Keith Morrison (08:21): “He had done this in order to present the good Ed to the public and try to snow them as he had tried to snow his victim…he just wouldn’t go that extra mile to confess what they have done.”
• Keith recalls challenging Shin over his refusal to reveal crucial information and provide closure for Chris’s family.
  • Keith’s Memorable Quote (09:55): "I don’t give a sweet flying about that. I don't. I don't care. I kind of care."
    (Blaine jokes about Keith “almost cursing” on air — 09:42–10:13)

The Break in the Case: Private Investigator Joe Delew

• Joe Delew, a PI, stumbled upon the turning point in the case a year after Chris disappeared, when the office space the crime occurred in remained unrented.
• Discovery of small bloodstains in the office prompted Delew to alert authorities, a pivotal moment in solving the case.
  • Joe Delew (12:49): “On the light switch, there was what appeared to be blood...So at this point, we backed out. We thought we had something serious.”
  • Keith Morrison (14:32): “The fact that he would look at a little bit of blood...and that would be enough for him to say, this wasn’t just somebody who cut himself shaving…An experienced investigator who’s been around for a while…knows what the ones look like you have to worry about.”

The Family’s Tenacity and Modern Digital Deceit

• The family’s concern and determination were instrumental in keeping pressure on the investigation.
  • Blaine Alexander (15:08): “This story is the perfect example of how often it’s the family…advocating for their loved one, that gets a case moving.”
• Blaine and Keith discuss how modern technology and social media enable new forms of deception by perpetrators—an issue likely to grow with advancements in AI.
  • Keith Morrison (16:16): “AI is going to make a big difference for good and for ill. And you can be sure that people who want to do bad things are going to be just as eager, maybe more so, to use AI for their purposes…”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Keith Morrison (about interviewing Ed Shin, 09:55):
  “I don’t give a sweet flying about that. I don't. I don't care. I kind of care.”
• Keith Morrison (on California’s lure, 04:08):
  "They just blend together in a strange mix that is intoxicating, really. It's like the song, you know, you can check out, but you can never leave."
• Joe Delew (on the pivotal discovery, 12:49):
  “I found blood in the office. I will tell you that I actually believe there’s something higher that brought us on this case. Everything just came together. It’s almost like this was just meant to be.”

Questions from Listeners (Social Media Segment, 17:39–20:58)

• Feeling of Chris's Girlfriend Post-Revelation
  • Keith explains she felt “pretty bad” upon learning Chris hadn’t really dumped her, regretting the things she had said in anger.
• Email Traceability
  • Keith confirms that technical investigation of email metadata was a key in eventually turning the case.
• About Keith’s Jail Interviews and Cursing
  • Social media fans react to Keith’s unfiltered frustration with Ed Shin; Keith reflects on memorable interviews with other elusive or infuriating subjects, including Lori Vallow and an unrepentant ex-preacher.

Discussion on Technology & Crime (16:09–16:59)

• Commentary on the increasing sophistication of technology for both investigators and criminals.
  • Possibilities of using AI to fake presence or identity, raising challenges for law enforcement and families.

Closing Remarks

• The episode underscores the meticulous nature of true-crime investigation, the emotional toll on victims’ families, and the ever-shifting digital landscape of deception.
• Blaine and Keith share gratitude for listeners, encourage questions, and promote Dateline’s live events and upcoming stories.

For listeners intrigued by the full account of Chris Smith, Ed Shin, and the unraveling of a masterful con, watch the full "In a Lonely Place" episode on Peacock or wherever you listen to Dateline NBC.