A HOMICIDE probe and cold case have left a victim’s family in grief as their queries have gone unanswered.
Kristin Smart’s murder was eventually discovered, and her parents learned what had occurred to her.
Who are Stan and Denise Smart? Kristin Smart’s parents?
Kristin Smart was the oldest of three daughters born to Stan and Denise Smart.
Denise, Kristin’s mother, is a teacher who has taught at the Teacher’s College of San Joaquin and the Lincoln Unified School District.
Stan Smart, like his wife, is a schoolteacher, but he is now retired.
On May 25, 1996, a 19-year-old California Polytechnic State University student went missing after leaving a house gathering.
“The Cal Poly police took me aside and said, ‘you know, your daughter was doing some things that would put her at risk,’ and that she’d gone to a party, and she had drank alcohol,” Kristin’s father Stan recalled to Dateline NBC.
“I listened to all this and he was portraying to me that our daughter disappeared, and if she was dead, she’d brought it onto herself, which was totally wrong.”
Denise Smart commented: “There was a lot of victim shaming and it’s, like, women get what, you know, what they’re asking for.
“They took 26 years of our life that we have been having to fight.”
Kristin’s primary murder suspect, Paul Flores, was apprehended in connection with her killing on April 13, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder.
Ruben Flores, his father, was also arrested and accused with accessory to homicide.
Paul was convicted guilty of first-degree homicide on October 18, 2022.
Meanwhile, his father was found not guilty on one count of being an accomplice to homicide.
Kristin’s assailant was condemned to 25 years to life in jail on March 10, 2023.
“Without Kristin, there is no joy or victory with this verdict, we all know it did not have to be this way,” the Smart family said at a news conference following their daughter’s long-awaited justice.
“We will never be able to hear Kristin’s engaging laughter or revel in her embrace.
“Her hopes and dreams will never be realized; no form of justice can bring these back.
“After 26 years, with today’s split verdicts, we learned that our quest for justice for Kristin will continue.”
The family further stated: “We appreciate and we are beyond grateful for the diligence of both juries and our faith in the justice system has been renewed by knowing the man who took Kristin’s life will no longer be free to abuse another family or victim.
“We will never be able to personally thank everyone, but please know our gratitude and love goes out to each of you who have been with us on this long, overwhelming, and emotional journey.”
They added: “Most importantly, to our Kristin…Almost three decades ago, our lives were irreparably changed on the night you disappeared.
“We hope this verdict helps deliver not just answers but also a peace and sense of closure that have eluded us for 26 years.
“Not a single day goes by where you aren’t missed, remembered, loved, and celebrated.”
Despite Kristin’s killer being brought to justice, her body was never recovered and the whereabouts of her remains are a mystery.
How can I watch Kristin Smart’s Dateline episode?
Stan and Denise Smart fought for justice for their late daughter for over 20 years.
Her death at the hands of Paul Flores is recounted in a Dateline NBC programme named Justice For Kristin Smart.
Justice For Kristin Smart is set to broadcast on the aforementioned network on March 24, 2023 at 9 p.m. EST.
The programme features show anchor Josh Mankiewicz gathering testimonies from those involved in the inquiry.
There are a number of streaming choices accessible for those who missed the show.
Those who missed the original broadcast can watch Ben’s show on Hulu or Peacock.
