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Crime & Safety

Ronni Chasen Investigation Closed, BHPD Says

"Without a doubt," Harold Smith killed the publicist as she drove through Beverly Hills on Nov. 16, a Beverly Hills Police Department statement says.

The Beverly Hills Police Department announced Friday that it has completed its investigation into the killing of publicist , who was shot to death in Beverly Hills on Nov. 16. 

“The Beverly Hills Police Department has completed the exhaustive investigation into the horrific murder of Ronni Chasen,” the department said in a statement.

“During the investigation, detectives reviewed in excess of 150,000 emails and texts belonging to the victim and investigated thousands of tips received on the police department's hotline,” the statement said. “Beverly Hills Police personnel assigned to this case worked in excess of 10,000 hours in order to thoroughly investigate each and every tip, theory and legitimate lead in order to bring this investigation to conclusion.”

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TheWrap.com reported late Thursday that the BHPD statement of closure .

“Without a doubt, it is the conclusion of robbery homicide detectives that the sole perpetrator of this most heinous crime was Harold Martin Smith,” the statement said. “All facts and evidence conclusively indicate that Mr. Smith acted alone and was in possession of the murder weapon when confronted in Hollywood for questioning on the night of Dec. 10, 2010.”

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Smith killed himself when police approached him for questioning.

“The [victim’s] family has asked that the media respect their privacy at this difficult time,” the statement concluded.

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