Dateline NBC “In a Lonely Place” July 26 2025 Recap & Preview

On Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, Dateline NBC airs In a Lonely Place, a chilling episode reported by Keith Morrison that unravels the shocking mystery behind the disappearance of California entrepreneur Chris Smith. What began as an adventurous story about a man leaving behind the corporate world to travel the globe turned into a heartbreaking tale of deception and murder.

Chris Smith seemed to vanish without a trace from Laguna Beach in 2010. Emails and messages to family and friends claimed he was traveling the world, living a carefree life. But after months passed without anyone hearing his voice or seeing him in person, suspicions grew. His family sensed something wasn’t right — and they were right.

As the investigation unfolded, police discovered that Chris never left California at all. Instead, he had been murdered, and the person behind the messages was someone close to him: his business partner, Ed Shin. The elaborate cover-up stunned even seasoned investigators.

In a Lonely Place includes interviews with those who knew Chris, law enforcement officials, and prosecutor Matt Murphy, who helped bring the killer to justice. In a rare and unsettling moment, viewers will also hear from the convicted killer himself, as he speaks out about the case that shocked Southern California.

Tune in Saturday night on NBC for this gripping Dateline episode, with next-day streaming available on Peacock.