Key To The Case: Gavin Smith's Abandoned Car Helped Cops Nab Murder Suspect — Plus Who Else Could Now Be Charged

The case of missing Fox executive Gavin Smith finally blew open on Thursday, with a murder suspect emerging three years after the movie honcho's disappearance. How did cops crack the case? Insiders tell RadarOnline.com exclusively that physical evidence from Smith's abandoned Mercedes-Benz was linked to suspect John Lenzie Creech, after the vehicle was found in a storage locker rented by the accused killer.

A law enforcement source told Radar, "This was an exhaustive investigation and extensive testing needed to be done on the physical evidence that connected the suspect to Gavin Smith's Mercedes. With Creech currently behind bars, there was no flight risk."

Creech is currently serving an eight-year sentence on drug charges from 2012, and will be arraigned Monday on the murder charges.

But the law enforcement source warned, "Other persons could be charged in connection with this case."

The insider also revealed that the Smith family had been notified about Creech being charged with the murder within the last few days and "were grateful and relieved for the news."

The 57-year-old film distributor who worked on numerous blockbusters including Titanic, Avatar and the latest Star Wars series, was last seen on the night of May 1, 2012 driving his Mercedes near his San Fernando Valley, Calif. home after staying with friends in Ventura County the night before. He was reported missing the next morning by his wife, Lisa Smith, when he failed to come home to take his son to school. His vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz 420E, was recovered from a storage facility in Simi Valley, and his remains were found in October 2014 in the Angeles National Forest.

According to previous reports, Smith had been having an affair with Creech's wife, Chandrika Creech, after they met in rehab.

Story developing.