Home / Crime and Justice / Kristin Smart: Nearly 30 Years Later, Body Still Missing
Kristin Smart: Nearly 30 Years Later, Body Still Missing
12 May
Summary
- Kristin Smart vanished from Cal Poly campus in 1996.
- Paul Flores was convicted of her murder in 2023.
- Her body has yet to be found, despite recent searches.
Kristin Smart, 19, disappeared from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo campus in 1996. She was last seen on May 25, 1996, after attending an off-campus party with fellow student Paul Flores, who was convicted of her murder in 2023.
Flores' conviction followed a trial where two women testified about being raped by him, significantly influencing the jury. Prosecutors also found videos on Flores' computer showing him having sex with unconscious women, aligning with Smart's intoxicated state the night she vanished.
Despite Flores being arrested in 2021 and sentenced to 25 years to life, Smart's body has never been found. His appeals have been denied, but the absence of her remains continues to cause immense pain for her family.
In May 2026, authorities executed a search warrant at Flores' mother's home based on new information. While initial reports suggested possible remains, a subsequent search concluded without recovery. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office remains committed to finding Kristin and bringing her home.
