Kristin Smart was a 19-year-old freshman at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.
“She came into this world with an adventurous spirit that never left her,” Kristin’s family says on a website they created for her.
“She believed in her dreams and always seemed to know the right steps needed to reach them. Her smile lit up the room and her hugs were contagious. The love for her family, especially her brother and sister, was without equal.”
In the early morning hours of May 25th, 1996, Kristin was attending a party off-campus. She was walking home and had made it back to campus when at around 2 in the morning another freshman named Paul Rueben Flores was seen walking with her.
Paul was literally the last person to see Kristin because after that she disappeared. Kristin’s family was very vocal about the fact that they believed Paul had abducted her.
When he proved to be anything but cooperative with authorities, they knew he had a hand in her disappearance.
Unfortunately, it would take 24 years for someone to finally be arrested and held accountable for what happened to Kristin.
Facebook; Kristin is pictured above
Just a few days ago, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced that Paul, now 44, has been arrested and charged with Kristin’s murder. Ruben Flores, his 80-year-old father, has also been arrested and charged with accessory to murder.
“It is alleged he (Paul) caused Kristin’s death while in the commission of or attempt to commit rape,” the district attorney explained in a press release.
“Ruben Flores, 80, is charged with accessory after the fact to the crime of murder. The allegation is that Ruben helped conceal Kristin’s body after she was murdered.”
Although the sheriff’s office has disclosed they have evidence supporting Paul being the one who took Kristin’s life, her remains have yet to be recovered and they have not revealed what evidence they exactly have pointing to Paul.
Following the announcement of Paul and Ruben’s arrests, Kristin’s family made a statement on Facebook.
Facebook; pictured above is a billboard trying to raise awareness for Kristin
Here’s what Kristin’s family had to say after Paul and his father were arrested:
For over twenty-four years, we have waited for this bittersweet day. It is impossible to put into words what this day means for our family; we pray it is the first step to bringing our daughter home. While Kristin’s loving spirit will always live in our hearts, our life without her hugs, laughs and smiles is a heartache that never abates.
The knowledge that a father and son, despite our desperate pleas for help, could have withheld this horrible secret for nearly 25 years, denying us the chance to lay our daughter to rest, is an unrelenting and unforgiving pain.
We now put our faith in the justice system and move forward, comforted in the knowledge that Kristin has been held in the hearts of so many and that she has not been forgotten.
We honor Kristin today and those who worked with unparalled tenacity and dedication to bring us to this day.
Without Kristin in our life, there will never be justice, but we will pray for peace. Unfortunately, the indifference and lack of resolve we experienced early on set the course for many years.
District Attorney; pictured above is Paul on the left and Ruben on the right
However, when Sheriff Parkinson took office in 2011, he made a promise that Kristin’s disappearance would be one of his top priorities.
We are here today because he has remained true to his word. We have kept the faith; never given up; and fully placed our trust and support with him and his team.
The task he and his team accepted was unprecedented in volume and scope, yet they met every setback and challenge with resolve and an unequaled commitment to Kristin and our family.
Our gratitude to Sheriff Parkinson and his department for their professionalism, compassion, and perseverance is without measure.
We are forever grateful for Detective Clint Cole who joined ‘Team Kristin’ in 2017 and brought new oxygen to Team Kristin and kept our hopes alive. We would not be here today without his professionalism, perseverance, and dedication. His heart and commitment are without equal.
We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the exceptional skills, indefatigable work and unselfish dedication of Christopher Lambert who produced Your Own Backyard Podcast.
Chris, along with four incredible angels (C, J, J, and J), balanced Kristin on their shoulders while lightening our burden and held our hearts and hopes with fierce resolve and commitment. There simply are ‘no words’!
We also wish to extend our deepest gratitude for all those on the SLOSO team, including Commander Nate Paul, Detective Cole, and their incredible and dedicated support staff.
To each law enforcement agency that assisted the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department with their extraordinary efforts, our gratitude is immeasurable. Each gave 110% to ensure that this day would come.
We are pleased that Kristin’s case has now moved to the district attorney’s office, where we know we will be in good hands, and look forward to the day when there will be ‘justice’ for Kristin.
To HEAL, we must REMEMBER not only Kristin but also every heart that carried Kristin and our family in theirs! Kristin’s story is ultimately one of unwavering commitment, resilience and immense gratitude.
