here in the san fernando valley. >> he clearly stopped using. he was feeling healthier than he had felt in years. >> but when detective john o'brien learned about gavin's addiction they had to consider a raft of new possibilities. >> he disappeared maybe he overdosed? we didn't exactly have any of those answers. >> driving all over the valley we would have moments in the car where we looked at each other and said, i think this is a suicide. and an hour later, we would interview somebody, or something but happen. and we would say i think this is a murder. and our feelings, and our gut instincts are going different ways. very early on, very fast. >> it's got to be pretty unusual. >> it was very confusing. >> confusing for at least two. because here was another secret. the smiths were underwater on their mortgage. on the verge of losing their home. >> we were in a horrible position financially. >> lisa discovered that before he disappeared, gavin had been taking money from his retirement account. and recklessly blowing through his six figure salary

originally from mexico, he immigrated to the san fernando valley with his family and graduated from van nuys high school. he had an eye for buildings and designed. he pursued his passion for architecture after receiving his arts degree. this led him to begin a career at jet propulsion laboratory in pasadena, quality. a quality assurance technician who worked on parts for the space shuttle program. in 1985 his brother started the family business. he opened one in about 1,000 square foot market in van nuys. he expanded the business to a second location and got his four brothers to join, including miguel. they focused on selling traditional cuts of popular mexican meats. they would put in 18 hour days, seven days a week to make sure the business succeeded. miguel brought his passion and design and helped develop the signature architecture and interior design of the viarta stores. he created the trademark viarta aesthetic with the focus of modern and nostalgic references to his hometown. anyone in our community can recognize the iconic design when they are driving around the neighborhood an

rural ecuador, he grew up between two valleys, and has lived in san francisco since the early 1990s. prior to joining choo-choo, fernando worked for seven years as an architect in the asian neighborhood design and before that was a rose architectural fellow at mission housing development corporation. a community planner at urban ecology, architectural designer at jacobson silverstein winslow degenhart architects, he is a licensed california architect, joint masters degree in architecture and city and regional planning from u.c. berkeley, and taught design and housing development studios at u.c. berkeley, cal poly, san luis obispo, and serves on the board of a justice organization. as well as serving on the housing stability fund oversight board. cut his teeth on organizing for community self-determination in the mission anti-displacement coalition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. facilitated community plans in the mission district, excelsior south of market and chinatown. fernando joined choo-choo in 2010 and what he and peter have accomplished in that time is truly incredible. dur

rural ecuador, he grew up between two valleys, and has lived in san francisco since the early 1990s. prior to joining choo-choo, fernando worked for seven years as an architect in the asian neighborhood design and before that was a rose architectural fellow at mission housing development corporation. a community planner at urban ecology, architectural designer at jacobson silverstein winslow degenhart architects, he is a licensed california architect, joint masters degree in architecture and city and regional planning from u.c. berkeley, and taught design and housing development studios at u.c. berkeley, cal poly, san luis obispo, and serves on the board of a justice organization. as well as serving on the housing stability fund oversight board. cut his teeth on organizing for community self-determination in the mission anti-displacement coalition in the late 1990s and early 2000s. facilitated community plans in the mission district, excelsior south of market and chinatown. fernando joined choo-choo in 2010 and what he and peter have accomplished in that time is truly incredible. dur