Kristin Smart's Murder Case Not over Until She Is 'Returned Home': Sheriff

A California jury unanimously found Paul Flores guilty of first-degree murder on Tuesday after Kristin Smart's 1996 disappearance in San Luis Obispo led to a 25-year investigation and three-month trial.

Smart, a 19-year-old student attending California Polytechnic State University, went missing in May 1996 after returning to her dorm from a party. Flores, 45, who also attended the same university at the time, had reportedly walked Smart back to her dorm and was the prime suspect in the case.

Flores was arrested in April 2021, and now faces 25 years to life in prison for the murder of Smart, according to a press release from Dan Dow, district attorney of San Luis Obispo County. Prosecutors believe Flores murdered Smart after he attempted to rape her.

Paul's father, Ruben Flores, was found not guilty on Tuesday, according to the release. Ruben had also been arrested in 2021 as an accessory to Smart's murder for allegedly helping his son hide Smart's remains.

During the trial, the jury heard evidence of a "clandestine grave" that had been found under Ruben Flores' home, which prosecutors believed at one point held Smart's body, according to the release.

Smart's remains have still not been recovered at this time.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said during a press conference held after the announcement of the verdict that he was "committed" to Smart's family to not give up on the case until her remains are found.

"I committed to them before and I remain committed, that even though Paul was convicted today, this case is not over," Parkinson said. "This case will not be over until Kristin is returned home."

The story of Smart's disappearance has been "embedded in the very fabric" of California Polytechnic State University, according to a report from NBC affiliate KSBY. Several students shared mixed feelings about Tuesday's verdict, with some critical of Ruben Flores' not-guilty verdict.

"I definitely think Ruben is guilty," second-year student at California Polytechnic Joelle Andrews told KSBY. "It's really disappointing to hear he didn't get any charge. I am really excited to hear Paul did because I think it's a long time coming and I'm really happy."

Other students echoed that the guilty verdict had taken "way too long" for the family to receive justice, but were glad to see Ruben's verdict, according to The Tribune, a daily paper serving San Luis Obispo County.

"This took way too long, though," first-year student at California Polytechnic Sienna Ritter told the paper. "I think that that is super unfair for her family to have to have waited this long [for a verdict]. And it's scary, it's sad; it's just heartbreaking."

Smart's case had regained popularity in 2019 after California-based freelance journalist Chris Lambert created the podcast Your Own Backyard to investigate Smart's disappearance. In the release Tuesday, Dow acknowledged Lambert's "tireless efforts" in "persistently and compassionately keeping the memory of Kristin alive."

Lambert attended the verdict hearing in person as well, and wrote on Twitter that "it's going to take me a while to process today."

"Thank you to so many people," Lambert added.

Newsweek reached out to Lambert for further comment.